Eddie Howe has urged patience during this summer’s transfer window.
What’s the latest Newcastle United transfer news?
Since the signing of Sven Botman towards the end of June, Newcastle have been frustrated.
A loan bid for Armando Broja was rejected by Chelsea while there is a feeling in west London that Callum Hudson-Odoi’s wage demands could prove prohibitive.
Everton’s Anthony Gordon remains of interest, although other interested parties have rarely felt the Goodison Park club would risk invoking the ire of their supporters by selling such a popular player after a miserable season.
The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, claim the club have pulled away from moves for Moussa Diaby and Alexander Isak due to the asking prices of Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad respectively.
Still needing a striker and potentially a right winger, there’s little doubt the last few weeks have proved fruitless.
What did Howe say about Newcastle’s transfer business?
Speaking after the pre-season loss to Mainz, Howe told Sky Sports: “You can make big mistakes if you don’t show patience at times, I think you have to.
“We’re trying to bring in the right players that make a difference to the team. Hopefully we’ll get those calls right.”
“You can make big mistakes if you don’t show patience at times…”#NUFC boss Eddie Howe says the club are looking to bring in the ‘right players’ to make a difference. pic.twitter.com/TjPFoQcIWo
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 18, 2022
Where do Newcastle go from here?
Frustrating as it may be, it’s worth remembering the January transfer window was full of frustration and that ultimately worked out brilliantly.
Indeed, even the chase for Botman this summer was a protracted one, with AC Milan looking favourites to sign him at points. Newcastle, however, are said to have held firm in their negotiations with Lille and ended up getting a player they had chased for months.
Patience can be a virtue, as Mehrdad Ghodoussi told supporters on social media.
The fact is, the club are hampered by FFP issues until new sponsors are sorted out. Even if they weren’t, paying over the odds for targets in the early years of their new era sets a dangerous precedent.
After all, Manchester City still pull out of deals when they get too expensive, such as ones for Harry Maguire and Alexis Sanchez, and few would argue they were bad decisions in the long run.
Newcastle are in a healthy position, albeit not an ideal one. At the start of the process, that’s surely the best that could have been asked for.