Saudi PIF hold transfer talks with Eddie Howe as boss shares early recruitment message
Moments after Man Utd's win at Aston Villa confirmed our spot in next season's Champions League yesterday, Eddie Howe was asked about transfer plans heading into a huge summer.
Our PSR position is much-improved and qualification for Europe's elite competition offers an enormous financial boost, also allowing us to keep our best players and (hopefully) attract top targets.
After a few slow and frustrating summers, Newcastle need a big window and it looks like Howe has every intention see the club strike fast in the market.
Howe reveals immediate talks
Eddie Howe revealed that he was about to hold transfer discussions with chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and PIF representatives after Sunday's game at St James' Park.
The boss seemed eager to push ahead the transfer plans and insisted that 'speed is key', urging the club to be ready to strike early deals.
That was his key message on recruitment, feeling it's vital we don't miss opportunities to bring quality addition to the club, also talking up the selling power of Newcastle now Champions League football has been secured:
"Speed is key for us and I have reiterated that many times internally. Speed is key because we have to be dynamic, we have to be ready to conclude things very quickly because good players don’t hang around for long.
"That’s always been my thought and my message on recruitment, because you can have a period when you think you have time - but then you look around quickly and you see that time has elapsed and you missed opportunities you won’t get again.
"That’s what we will be trying, but the reality of that is it’s not always in your hands - but we will do our best to do things early.
"The power of the Champions League is huge. It’s a selling point for us now, it’s an opportunity to sell that dream to future players that might be considering coming to us"
What do we need?
The early messages from the media suggest it may be quality over quantity this summer, ensuring we bring in top quality players to improve at least three or four key areas.
A right winger has been wanted for years and will surely arrive, with Bryan Mbeumo heavily linked but hard to get after his 20-goal season.
A right-footed centre-back able to bring some youth and mobility to our back line is also key, and there is suggestions Marc Guehi and Illya Zabarnyi are high on our wanted list.
At opposite ends of the pitch, we will surely sign a striker to replace Callum Wilson after his wave goodbye yesterday, while a ball-playing goalkeeper such as James Trafford will be targeted.
