Newcastle have no money, no friends and next to no hope of signing anyone this January, reveals Eddie Howe
EDDIE HOWE has admitted Newcastle have no money, no friends and next to no hope of signing anyone this month.
The Geordies may have the world’s richest owners in the form of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – but Financial Fair Play restrictions leave them unable to splash their billions.
Even Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke is out of reach, with boss Howe warning fans not to expect any incoming.
Newcastle are scouring the market for loans but, as Howe put it, NOBODY wants to do them any favours.
Manchester City’s England midfielder Kalvin Phillips (below) is a top target but the Treble winners want more than £7million as a loan fee — a sum Newcastle are reluctant to spend.
And yesterday midfield enforcer Joelinton was ruled out for six weeks after injuring a thigh in last Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Sunderland, adding to St James’ Park’s lengthy crock list.
On Thursday, the Tyneside club announced pre-tax losses of £73million for the 2022-23 season, leaving club chiefs scratching their heads as to where the incomings will come from.
And in a brutal reality check ahead of hosting City, Toon chief Howe said: “In an ideal world, given the freedom to act we would have brought players in already.
“But we’re not in that situation. Financial Fair Play is a problem and we’re having to navigate around that.
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“We’re not shutting the door on everything but as I sit here now, no we’re not going to bring anyone in.
“Sometimes you have to take your long-term vision away and just deal with the here and now.
“I’d be quite prepared to do that if the situation arose where we could agree something that would help us now.
“The owners are very ambitious and they would like to help and improve the squad in any way they can.
“But the rules and conditions we’re working under don’t allow that.
“I will continue to push for signings but I have to respect and understand the football club’s health because we want Newcastle United here for the next 500 years.”
Chief executive officer Darren Eales admitted they may have to cash in on star players like Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to beat FFP.
The Saudis have splashed £374.6m since buying the club from hated owner Mike Ashley in October 2021 but have only recouped around £45m in sales.
So if club chiefs want to sell a prized asset without Howe’s blessing, he admits he will be powerless.
He added: “As much as I don’t think it’s a good deal, ultimately that would be taken out of my hands.
“To sign players, we may have to sell. It’s something we will do for the foreseeable future.”
Solanke is valued at around £50m after Howe paid Liverpool £19m for him in 2019 when he was Cherries boss.
The striker, 26, has bagged 12 Prem goals this season and was yesterday named as the top-flight’s Player of the Month for December.
Howe added: “I love Dominic but we don’t have the ability to sign a player of that level.”
And as for loans, Howe moaned: “I’m not sure there are many clubs out there willing to help us.
“To agree a loan deal, you need the club to agree so we’re in that moment where I’m not sure we have many friends in the market.”
Currently ninth in the table and 11 points off the top four, a huge second half to the season is needed to secure European football again — and the much-needed cash boost that brings in.
When asked if the Toon are an established top-six club yet after finishing fourth last term, Howe said: “I’ve never said we are part of that set.
“I don’t think you can suddenly put yourself in that bracket. You have to prove it year on year.
“The accounts would have given you an insight into how far we have to go to become the team that everyone wants us to be.
“There was this conception when the owners took over that we were the richest club in the world.
“Then reality is that’s not really important when talking about FFP, that’s irrelevant.
“We are where we are based on income and we have to improve those revenue streams.”
If all of that will sound gloomy to the Toon Army, 46-year-old Howe has no doubts about where he sees his future.
He added: “I hope to be here for many years. I’m also wise enough to know you can’t predict anything in football.
“I’ve been in no doubt about the situation we’re in for a long time.”