Eddie Howe has now responded to rumours linking Newcastle to a number of Bournemouth players in his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s fixture against the Cherries.
The Mail reported earlier this week that were considering a £15m double swoop Philip Billing and Lloyd Kelly, who is out of contract this summer. The Telegraph reported on our interest in Dominic Solankelast month, while Richard Hughes has been linked as a potential candidate to replace Dan Ashworth.
There’s clearly a lot of interest in the South Coast club, who are enjoying a good season in the Premier League under the guidance of new manager Andoni Iraloa and will travel to Tyneside tomorrow for the 3pm kick-off.
During today’s press conference, a journalist asked: “You’ve been linked over the last six months to a year with several Bournemouth players – Billing, Lloyd Kelly, Dominic Solanke – do they have players you admire and who could play for Newcastle at some point?”
In response, Howe said: “There’s players of course I admire because I signed the previously and I think they’re outstanding players.
“Whether or not they’re right for Newcastle is another matter and don’t always believe the rumours you read in the newspaper because some of those probably won’t be true.”
As ever, Howe did not give too much away in his answer, but it’s the Toon boss prefers players with Premier League experience and characters he trusts.
He warns not to read everything you belief in the press, yet did little to distance ourselves in summer moves for the Cherries trio.
