Howe issues transfer warning
‘READY-MADE ELITE PLAYERS’ CAN’T BE AT TOP OF HIS WISH LIST
We have to be really smart with recruitment ... maybe different to some of the other clubs
Eddie Howe, left
NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe has warned fans the club still aren’t in a position to land “ready-made elite players” in the upcoming summer window – but has confirmed Bruno Guimaraes’ £100million release clause expires in June.
The Magpies will have money to spend as the FFP dynamics are set to adjust at the end of a three-year cycle.
But Howe is expecting to be bringing in players in the same bracket as Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who can both be developed and eventually become exciting senior stars for Newcastle.
Howe said: “I think with our current situation and the landscape of the financial position I am not sure we are able to recruit ready-made elite players.
“The players you are trying to get across, I don’t think we are in a position to do that and I don’t think we were in a position to do that last year.
“So I think we have to be really smart with our recruitment. I think we have to be maybe different to some of the other clubs we are in and around.
“It is all about the individual player not what bracket they’re in.
“And what they can do for us and how they can take the team or squad forward.”
The Newcastle head coach underlined the importance of keeping other senior stars and feels his decision to fight in order to stop Kieran Trippier going to Bayern Munich has been vindicated.
Howe said: “Kieran has been so good on and off the pitch. We have wanted to keep our squad together as much as we can.
“We want to keep our leaders or [it will] destabilise the group going into the summer. We want to build on the core squad that we have, that is my wish, but we have other things to think about.”
The big concern for supporters is whether stars like Alexander Isak or Bruno Guimaraes will leave. It has now emerged that the Brazilian’s £100million release clause expires in June.
Howe is pleased with that aspect of the clause as it will give Newcastle more control over his fee and would leave any potential suitors with one month to decide whether to trigger it.
Speaking about Bruno, Howe said: “Having that was well planned and structured by the club, in a sense that there’s a sort of finish point.
“We don’t want constant speculation, it’s not healthy for the player or for us. It goes without saying we want to keep him, I want to build our team around him. His form has been very good – he seems very happy and settled.
“He’ll be thinking about a very busy summer ahead, where hopefully we can take the team with him a big part of it. But we aren’t in control of that so let’s see.
“I am aware of his contractual status but it’s not something I focus on. Having that (clause) was well planned and structured by the club in a sense that there is a finish point.”
Howe then re-iterated his stance that Newcastle won’t be expecting to welcome marquee signings to Benton this summer.
Howe said: “Where we sit now in terms of wages and transfer fees, I don’t think we are in a position to do that.
“We have to sign and develop players with the potential to become world-class.
“We are well on the way to doing that. It does not mean you can’t have [world-class] players in your squad, it just means that you have to work really hard with them.
“I have no issue doing it.”