Eddie Howe admits Newcastle had 'difficult' January transfer window
Eddie Howe admits Newcastle’s rise into the Premier League’s top four has made life ‘difficult’ in the transfer market, with their rivals now viewing them ‘differently’… after the Magpies failed to sign a central midfielder in January
- Newcastle are currently third in the table after a strong first half of the season
- They failed to sign a central midfielder in January, leaving them thin in this area
- Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle are finding it ‘difficult’ to land their targets
Eddie Howe has revealed that Premier League rivals are making life ‘difficult’ for Newcastle in the transfer market, given the threat they now pose.
The Magpies, third in the table and into the final of the Carabao Cup, were frustrated in their attempts to bring in the likes of Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay last month.
Domestic clubs made it clear that Newcastle would have to pay a premium for any player – loans would certainly not be entertained – and, when asked if they were now seen as a ‘threat’, Howe said: ‘That’s your words, not mine. But yes, I think you’re on the right lines. I think it is potentially difficult for us.
‘It depends on the player and it depends on the club, but I think we’re probably aware we are seen differently this season to how we were last season. We are viewed differently by some clubs now and that is something we will have to adjust to.’
Newcastle signed Anthony Gordon from Everton for £40m and West Ham defender Harrison Ashby arrived for £3m.
Eddie Howe was unable to sign a central midfielder for Newcastle in January
The club were thwarted in their attempts to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea
The Magpies also missed out on Manchester United’s Scott McTominay
However, Howe has been left light in the middle of the park. He wanted to finish the window with six recognised central midfielders but, following the sale of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest and the failure to bring in another, he has been left with four.
That number has since been reduced to three with Bruno Guimaraes now suspended for three matches following his red card against Southampton on Tuesday.
Howe said during the week that ‘I don’t think this window has been perfect for us’, and he admitted on Friday: ‘Losing Jonjo has been a concern for us. We have had a lot of discussions internally. We were active in the market but we didn’t manage to get a midfielder over the line.
‘In some senses, that gives opportunities to other players. We really believe in Elliot Anderson and this could be a moment in his career where we see the very best of him. A local lad who gets a chance in the team. There are others who can play in that position. Bruno’s suspension came at the worst time in the worst position possible. Sometimes, these things happen.’
Allan Saint-Maximin is expected to return to the team for Saturday’s visit of West Ham having not started since August.
And Howe said: ‘The second half of season is going to be huge for him personally, and huge for us that we get him in the best possible place to play.
Newcastle will be without Bruno Guimaraes against West Ham after he was sent off on Tuesday
Howe has backed Allan Saint-Maximin to have a strong second half of the season
‘Physically, I think he’s in a good place now, probably the best he’s been since his injury. It was a difficult injury for him because he didn’t just injure his hamstring once, he injured it twice. So that really did delay his comeback.
‘I do think he’s looked really good from the bench in recent weeks, and hopefully that has helped his confidence levels so that he can play a different role for us.’
Asked about the Frenchman’s apparent unwillingness to track back, Howe said: ‘I think you have to accept players for their strengths. There’ll be no better player at doing what Allan does well in the league in my opinion. You can never force a player to play like someone else.
‘Allan is unique, but we just need to make sure we see his strengths, and that comes down to the team giving him the ball in the right areas, and then Allan executing what he needs to do.
‘Yes, our wide men do work extremely hard, and that’s no doubt contributed to our very good defensive record. Not just our wide men, but our midfield as well. But the team needs to function well to win, and it’s never just down to one player.’
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