Eddie Howe believes Newcastle should not rest on the success of their top-three standing and wants to improve his team in January – but the head coach accepts funds could be limited by FFP.
We understand that means deals for the likes of Leicester’s James Maddison are extremely unlikely given the financials that would be involved, although Howe remains an admirer.
The club’s model, at present, is also more geared towards identifying players they can develop and at prices they believe represent value, such as Bruno Guimaraes (£36million) and Sven Botman (£32m).
Eddie Howe is looking to strengthen in January but may have to sell to buy players
Newcastle are currently training in Saudi Arabia during the break for the World Cup
Howe will hold a transfer meeting with sporting director Dan Ashworth and co-owners Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben here in Saudi Arabia this week, as they prepare for the New Year window.
Sources say ‘one in, one out’ is the most likely scenario after a year in which the Saudi-backed owners have spent in excess of £200m on eight new players.
However, Howe will also stress that their current position in the Champions League places should be a reason to kick on and strengthen. He spoke to us from the team hotel in Riyadh on Tuesday, where he addressed January dealings for the first time.
‘As a manager, I am always looking to improve the team,’ he said. ‘I will never sit here and be content – I don’t think that is the right way to manage.
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‘My way to take the team to new heights is to improve through the training of the players we have. If we can’t get to a certain level, then we need to find that in the transfer market.
‘In my position, you are keen to sign the best players you can – but those players come at a premium. Botman wasn’t cheap, Alex Isak (£60m) wasn’t cheap. Those are players who can influence the starting XI.
‘Do we have the finances for that? I do not know. That might impact our options. It is a considerable outlay the club have to find and with FFP, I’m not sure that’s available to us. You have to work within the guidelines of the club.’
One position Newcastle are certain to bolster is right back, with West Ham’s Harrison Ashby and Leeds United’s Cody Drameh both on the shortlist.
But, elsewhere, Howe says performance of certain players during the first part of…