Sports
Howe aware of players reluctance to join club given current Premier League position
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe says his sides current position in Premier League is a ‘concern’ heading into the January transfer window.
The Magpies sit 19th, having won just one game all season and shipping 41 goals in their 18 games which represents the worst defence record so far this term.
Since the Saudi-led takeover of the club back in October, Newcastle have been widely tipped to bring major reinforcements to the club in the upcoming transfer window and are reported to have around £190m available to them in January – a league high.
However, given the current predicament and the very real threat of relegation to the Championship, potential new recruits may be reluctant to join the club on a permanent basis – an issue that Howe himself has commented on.
Howe stated:
“I think there are a few challenges we face. The availability of players: will they come with our current league position, which is a concern?
“January is notoriously very difficult. I found that as a manager all through my time so they’re the challenges we’re going to work under, but we’re going to do our best to find a solution.”
As a result, the Magpies are likely to look towards the loan-market or may offer transfer targets short term deals with the opportunity to sign for longer if the team avoids relegation. Given the financial boost from the PIF and new owners, the team from Tyneside have been linked with a ridiculous number of targets – some more realistic than others.
Of course there is the rise in covid cases to add to the mix and the likelihood of more Premier League clashes being cancelled. This means that clubs are desperate to hold onto their best players, as well as squad players, to ensure they are able to field a team if an outbreak was to occur. As a result, prices may become inflated and agreeing fees could more challenging than ever.
Will money talk?
January is renowned for being difficult to tie up deals with potential targets and the pandemic has made the process even more challenging.
Howe, his backroom staff and the owners are in for a tough transfer period but for once the club has the finances to make substantial moves0.
HOWE IMPORTANT IS JANUARY?
The transfer window may prove to be the most important in the clubs history as Howe tries to bolster Newcastle’s chances of survival and retain their Premier League status come May.
By the time 1st January hits, there will be 57 points still to play for in the remaining 19 games. Subsequently, the upcoming negotiations in the transfer window will play a huge role in Newcastle’s attempt to beat the drop.
Although things on the pitch have improved in parts since the introduction of new boss Eddie Howe, it’s blindingly obvious that Newcastle’s defensive deficiencies are the main area of concerns.
The Magpies have kept just one clean sheet all season – a woeful record.
Howe may have started to get the best out of players such as Joelinton and Jonjo Shelvey, but the team need to show much more if they are to turn their fortunes around on the field.
Following the battle with Manchester United at St James’ Park on Monday 27th December – 8pm kick-off – Newcastle face a run of games in which they will be hoping to add a substantial number of points to their current tally of 10 points.
The next five Premier League games, after the visit of the Red Devils, are against: Everton, Southampton, Watford, Leeds and the return fixture with Everton. That run represents five winnable games and the Magpies may have strengthened their squad by then to give them an even better chance of picking up some valuable points.
Some much needed quality is needed and fast…
OWNERS WORKING TIRESOMELY IN THE BACKGROUND
With this in mind, it’s crucial that the club and its owners are working hard in the background to build a realistic list of transfers and start negotiating with potential new signings.
The early signs are good.
Ahead of the January window, the club’s part-owners, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben, have been hands-on in an attempt to deliver Howe’s preferred targets and improve the squad.
Steve Nickson has overseen the scouting operations as Newcastle’s head of recruitment and has remained an integral part of the transfer process.
The club brought in Nick Hammond on an interim basis to help oversee the transfer process on a management level while the Newcastle’s owners have called on the expertise of Nolan Partners to also help with recruitment of players.
Earlier in the week, Newcastle were given permission to speak to Brighton’s Dan Ashworth becoming the Director of Football after the news owners have been searching for weeks to find the right fit for the role.
When asked about the role of Hammond and the transfer processes taking place at the club, Eddie Howe has said:
“A good window for us looks like a stronger squad than when we started the transfer window but, for me, that doesn’t give any guarantees of what we can and can’t do. We’re endeavouring to make sure we’re prepared as we can be. We’re doing the work behind the scenes, which we need to do.
“I still think that the squad we have is the biggest strength that we currently have in our fight against relegation that will go all through the season.”
Howe added:
“But if we can find a couple of solutions and make the team stronger, the squad stronger, then we’ll certainly look to do that.”
Thoughts? Who would you like to see added to the squad in January? Can Howe recruit well enough to keep the Magpies in the league?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.
They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’
Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..
Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.
What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.
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Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter
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Amazon Prime are currently filming behind-the-scenes footage at Newcastle United for a new documentary.
The docu-series will provide an insight into the club and its efforts to secure a top-four finish and a piece of silverware in the 2022-23 season.
Reports today revealed that camera crews have been filming a four-part documentary for their All or Nothing series. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed that the series will cover the club and the new owners as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy.
The All or Nothing series has previously documented other Premier League Clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Spurs as well as the Brazilian national team, Juventus, and the All Blacks of rugby.
Something I mentioned last night on @tfNUFC: Camera crews have been filming behind-the-scenes at Newcastle United for a four-part documentary to be shown on Amazon.
The series will chart the club & its owners as they attempt to win a trophy & qualify for The Champ League #NUFC— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 8, 2023
Newcastle face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on February 26 at Wembley.
🗓️ 26.02.23@ManUtd 🆚 @NUFC #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/V23zWPDoxP
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 1, 2023
The Magpies have featured three times in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Most recently in the 2003-04 season as they reached the third qualifying round, eventually losing on penalties to Serbian side FK Partizan.
The season before the Toon finished third in the 2002-03 Champions League group stages, winning twice against Bayer Leverkusen and drawing with Inter Milan 2-2 at the San Siro. The lineup that night; Given, Solano, O’Brien, Dyer, Shearer (C), Bellamy, Speed, Griffin, Hughes, Dabizas and Viana.
The series is expected to air later this year and will be available on Amazon Prime.
Based on previous seasons, you can expect exclusive access to training sessions, team meetings and match days, giving fans an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis at Newcastle United.
It is set to be an incredible storyline and one that should provide fans with some real insight into what it takes to compete at the top level of professional football.
What do you think Newcastle fans?
Does this excite you or do you stand more with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who once said the cameras could be intrusive to the dressing room when he turned down the offer from Amazon In 2018?
Join the conversation on our Facebook page…
Everton have made a £40million bid with £5m in add-ons to sign Connor Gallagher from Chelsea.
This comes after Newcastle completed the signing of Anthony Gordon, the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Alexander Isak.
Everton received an initial fee of £40m plus add-ons that could increase the deal to £45m.
EXCL: Everton have submitted a bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. It’s £40m proposal plus £5m add ons. 🚨🔵 #EFC
Chelsea will make a decision soon as there are also other clubs interested in Gallagher — and player has to decide his future too. pic.twitter.com/xZeuGqaR01
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 30, 2023
The Toffees currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are looking to reinvest the money from the Gordon deal to sign much-needed players under newly appointed manager Sean Dyche.
But, multiple sources have reported today that Gallagher is not actively pushing for a move and has no intention of going to Goodison Park. However, with Chelsea having met the record-breaking €120m release clause for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Gallagher may be forced to leave the club if the transfer is complete.
🚨| Conor Gallagher is not interested in a move to Everton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0CYzXjBoBd
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 30, 2023
This leaves Newcastle an option as the player would prefer a move to a top-six club.
This morning, Eddie Howe said, “We’ll see what we can do to try & bring a player in. There’s no guarantees. In terms of permanent signings, it will be very difficult. We’ll look at a potential loan. But it’s got to be the right player & not one for the sake of it”.
Due to financial fair play, the only way Newcastle could sign the player is through a loan, with an obligation to buy the player for at least £45m, the same price they paid for Anthony Gordon.
Gallagher has been playing regular Premier League football over the last two seasons. Since returning to his parent club Chelsea, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away to numerous Premier League clubs.
Last season he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Season by their fans. He also won the Player of the Month award twice, Goal of the Month once, and was awarded the Young Player of Year at the 2022 London Football Awards.
In the same season, he made 36 appearances scoring eight goals and registering three assists that earned Palace a 12th-place finish, one point behind Newcastle.
Have Your Say!
Would you want Newcastle to sign Conor Gallagher?
Does he start?
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