United manager still confident despite targets going elsewhere

EDDIE Howe has revealed Newcastle United’s luck in the transfer market has not been helped by some of their summer targets turning down the Magpies in favour of moves elsewhere.

Newcastle missed out on Hugo Ekitike after a bid was lodged but the player opted to sign for Paris St-germain while another mooted target in Burnley’s Maxwel Cornet is set to join West Ham after United were linked with the player. It leaves Howe in a position where he has actually lost a forward player in Dwight Gayle going into the opener against Nottingham Forest today with just Chris Wood and Callum Wilson as recognised strikers.

Howe, though, did say in his press conference yesterday he could use Joelinton or Allan Saint-maximin as a striker if needed.

When asked about transfers, Howe said there was no update: “Not this week – nothing has progressed any further. The situation has remained the same since we made that last signing in Sven Botman.

“We are working hard to try to add to the group.

“We are acting in the market and we will wait to see if we can add players before the window shuts.”

Expanding on his frustration at not being able to add to his roster for the

Forest clash, Howe insisted factors were not dropping the way of Unite.

He added: “There is no frustration from me with the club – it is circumstances around it.

“We have missed out on a couple of players because they wanted to go elsewhere. That is the delicate thing, it is not always the other club.

A bunch of things have to drop for you but I am confident we can make the squad as strong as possible.”