HOWE’S DESERT STORM AS HE DEFENDS SAUDI TRIP DURING TRANSFER WINDOW
SIMON BIRD
BY
EDDIE HOWE has defended Newcastle’s team trip to Saudi Arabia – and admitted it’s been a “fruitless search” for new players this week.
The Newcastle manager has agreed to take his squad to Riyadh for bonding and training, after today’s game at Leeds, as the Premier League enters its winter break.
The club is 80 percent owned by the Public Investment
Fund of Saudi Arabia, chaired by the national leader,
Crown Prince
Mohammed bin
Salman.
But Howe says the decision to make the
12-hour flight to the Middle
East in the final week of the transfer window was “a football decision”.
The trip is likely to be used by the Saudis to promote their training facilities, as they seek to wield more influence in the world of football.
It will leave Howe in Saudi while trying to help get transfers done in Europe. And it will draw the Magpies into controversy if they undertake activities to promote a Saudi regime accused of human rights abuses.
Manager Howe did not answer a question on whether he would be prepared to shake Bin Salman’s hand on the trip.
“It is a football decision. We are doing it for the benefit of the players, the group, in our fight to stay in the division. That is my only thought,” said Howe.
“The facilities and everything around the trip are going to be first class. We will train and train hard in preparation for our next game. That is my only focus”
Asked about Bin Salman (below) and possible distraction, Howe said: “There will be no distraction from my side. It is about the training and making sure the players are focused on our next game.
“We are just doing it in a different environment to make sure the players are together.
“Here (in the UK) there are lots of Covid protocols that encourage isolation. It doesn’t help foster a togetherness to stay in the division.
“It is important to encourage that unity. It will be a work training camp, working and playing a game. We will be very active.”
Howe concedes it has been a “slightly frustrating week” trying to sign defender Diego Carlos from Sevilla and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.
Clubs are hiking prices and deals have been tough to finalise.
And the Toon boss added: “We are against a deadline and desperately trying to improve the squad. It has been a fruitless search this week.
“The takeover has elevated expectations on what Newcastle can pay other clubs. When you are in our position, and keen to add to the dynamic, it has been very difficult.
“I think we are facing inflated prices because of January and possibly, also, because of our name, but that’s something we have to deal with.”