Newcastle United transfer update as Eddie Howe answers Harvey Barnes question

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has provided a transfer update following his side’s 3-2 win at Gateshead in their opening pre-season friendly.

The Magpies came from 2-0 down at the Gateshead International Stadium after second half goals from Elliot Anderson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Jay Turner-Cooke.

Summer signing Sandro Tonali was among the several international players watching from the stands. Howe admits the Italian’s £52million arrival has taken a chunk out of the club’s budget and they will need to be creative to work within Financial Fair Play regulations.

“Nothing close with any deal,” Howe told reporters. “I can share that we want to bring players into the football club but they have to be the right ones and they have to be at the right level.

“We’re working hard to do that, we’ve been working hard all summer. It’s difficult to get good players, as it is with any club, but we’ll keep going.

“We have a very strict budget that we’re trying to work within. Always with FFP, there are certain things you can be creative on but we don’t have a huge budget to work with.

“I’m patient and understand the parameters we’re working in but I also know the needs we have. For me it’s not a case of we want to do it, we need to do it. And being a coach I want them on the grass available now so all of those things together.”

Howe added: “It’s huge for us this year. With the competitions that we’re in, having three games a week we need to be able to rotate the team but to be able to bring in players who are of equal standard.

“That’s what we’re looking to do but we know we have a lot of work to do to do that. Players are expensive these days. We’re working within FFP guidelines which is very difficult for us. We might need to be creative, but we’re trying to look at every avenue we can to make the club stronger.”

Asked about the reports to Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes, Howe said: “I can’t say anything. I’d never be disrespectful. No comment.”