Howe will get two more new Toon signings

NEWCASTLE’S transfer spending for 2022 could reach almost £200million as Eddie Howe has been assured he will get at least two more signings this summer.

United are still searching for at least one attacking player, with Leicester’s England midfielder James Maddison subject of a clubrecord bid worth around £50million this week.

The two Premier League rivals still cannot agree a fee for the 25-year-old but the Magpies are still working on deals with the transfer window open until the end of the month.

Newcastle would ideally supplement the addition of playmaker Maddison with the purchase of another forward to compete with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood.

The latter only arrived in January, at a cost of £25million, as part of a spending spree to get the club to safety. Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn also joined as United spent around £85million in the winter window.

Former loanee Matt Targett, England goalkeeper Nick Pope and Dutch Under-21 defender Sven Botman have arrived for around £60million, taking the total outlay on transfer fees to around £145million.

However, after a strong start to the summer window, the Magpies have been frustrated by the inflated demands of selling clubs and players’ agents.

They also missed out on young French striker Hugo Ekitike, who agreed to join Paris St Germain after Newcastle had agreed a big-money deal with Reims.

Executive meetings between co-owner Amanda Staveley, sporting director Dan Ashworth and head coach Eddie Howe recently took place as the club’s powerbrokers look to continue overhauling the squad.

As well as bringing new players in, the Magpies are also looking at what to do with some of their existing stars.

Howe has handed rising star Elliot Anderson and veteran Matt Ritchie key roles in pre-season due to the lack of incomings but both could potentially leave if things change.

Anderson has been the subject of loan interest for a whopping 23 different clubs in the EFL and Scotland. Ritchie, meanwhile, could move on if a buyer can be found.

Howe was insistent on Tursday that the club’s spending is not finished yet.

“It’s no secret we’ve been looking at a couple of attacking players and we won’t stop,” he said.