EDDIE’S SET FOR BROKEN WINDOW
EDDIE HOWE admits there could be “disagreements and difference of opinion” as Newcastle face an “unsettling” end to the transfer window.
The Newcastle boss says he was not asked to a high-level ownership meeting held at Alnwick Castle on Thursday night, joking: “I must have missed the invitation.”
In a gloomy transfer update yesterday, Howe conceded Newcastle have so little financial room to spend that they couldn’t afford a loan move for Kalvin Phillips, who cost West Ham £6million, plus his full salary.
But he also said that as the manager, he cannot afford to lose striker Callum Wilson (top) who is the subject of interest from Chelsea and West Ham for £20m, which would raise funds to buy.
Howe (above) says Kieran Trippier is fully committed and didn’t have “his head turned” after Bayern Munich’s three offers ended with a £13m bid. Miguel Almiron’s future is also up in the air over a £25m switch to Saudi Arabia.
Joelinton is in contract negotiations and Howe says he is “not a fortune teller” over his future, which could see him sold in the summer if no agreement is reached.
Newcastle need a win in the FA Cup at Fulham after eight defeats in 10 games.
Howe said of Amanda Staveley’s evening with club chiefs: “I wasn’t there. I knew the meeting was happening. The board are understanding of my job and what I have to do.
“If they needed me for the subjects they were going to discuss I’d have been there. But of course there are some things I am not involved in, in terms of decision-making at the club.
“And those meetings can last a long time, so I was quite relieved not to be there. I would say we have all been aligned.
“I don’t think there has been a situation where we have not agreed, which is a good thing.
“Of course there will be disagreements and differences of opinion at different stages but I think everything we have done so far has been very clear.”
Howe says that Wilson has NOT been offered around by the club: “That has been a strange one. There has been a lot of speculation. Some of it has been unfounded. Not all of it, but Callum is a huge part of what we are doing.
“We have one fit striker, why would the club be offering that striker around or make him available?
“With no ability to replace him. It doesn’t make sense.”
Asked if he could still sign a player without selling, Howe cast doubt saying: “I’m not 100 percent sure. We are looking and trying to improve the squad, and leave January with a better squad than when we started, so let’s see.
“Contemplating losing a player would be personally difficult. We have a very thin squad.”
On the failed Phillips deal, he added: “We had to step away from that one due to financial reasons. It was financial-related.”
Trippier is almost certain to stay and Howe said: “He has never asked to leave and has not questioned his future here.”