Eddie Howe insists he is “not anxious” about the lack of incomings at Newcastle over the last month, insisting we “still have time” to secure the signings he’d “love to bring in.”
When asked if the club were any closer to bringing in a new attacker earlier today, Howe was “really sorry to say no” when quizzed by the local press.
He’ll be aware that fans are eager to see new recruits arrive – it’s been clear for a while now that we need a new striker and right winger – but he’s hoping he will have a different and more positive update to share “next week.”
Interestingly, Howe later revealed that he’s reluctant to allow any more senior players to leave until we bring another one in, suggesting it could unsettle the balance of training sessions.
Here’s everything he had to say on incomings an outgoings, starting with his current stance on the former:
“Are we any closer? I’m really sorry to say no.
“I am sorry to keep giving you the same answers.
“I want to give you a different response but I can’t.
“We are no closer currently.
“Hopefully the next week or so will be different.
“I’m never relaxed, I’d love to bring players in that we feel can benefit the group and add to what we have.
“But I’m not anxious. The squad is in a very good place, very confident and with a good dynamic internally.
“We still have time.”
Howe then had this to say to BBC Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck when asked about potential outgoings:
“I’d say at the moment our squad is and has been very consistent during training.
“Our numbers have been 20, 21 22, which is where we want to be really – dependent on obviously knocks and injuries at that moment.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to be any weaker than that. So I’d be reluctant to let anyone go currently without bringing someone in.”
You can watch Eddie’s press conference in full below, which start with an update on Jonjo Shelvey’s hamstring injury:
