'Big possibility' - Newcastle United issue new signings update as £90m Premier League trio linked

Eddie Howe says Newcastle United are lining up potential incomings in case circumstances change during the final week of the January transfer window.

The Magpies' boss is keen to bolster his squad before the winter market slams shut next Thursday (February 1) but financial constraints, i.e complying with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) means the club's hierarchy are struggling to make the relevant funds available.

Howe admits it is a "big possibility" that Newcastle won't welcome any new signings this month. He said: “Yeah, that is a big possibility. There might not be anyone coming through the door. I can’t give any false promises or any other position than the truth - we are not close to signing anybody. But that doesn’t mean we are not going to do the work and prepare as though we are. There is still time left in the window."

“There’s no guarantee on that," Howe added. We’re, of course, working with the club again to see what we can do the other way. We’re still doing our work and preparing if we can.

“No, we're not very close [to making a new signing]. We're preparing and that's all we can do, preparing and seeing what's out there, identifying players and targets. We're not active in the market currently."

Newcastle have been linked with Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, Everton's Amadou Onana and Bournemouth's Philip Billing in recent days amid the need for a midfielder with Joelinton ruled out until May after undergoing thigh surgery and summer signing Sandro Tonali banned until August 2024.

But the likelihood is United will have to sell before buying with Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier all attracting interest. Trippier is set to stay amid a bid from Bayern Munich but Almiron and Wilson could depart, although Howe hinted that is unlikely.

“It’s been a difficult window so far as you can imagine for us," said Howe. "It’s the first time since I’ve been manager of the club where we’ve been linked with players leaving and that creates an unsettling dynamic.

"Now, I think a lot of those rumours have been that, they’re just rumours - speculation and no truth behind it - not all of it. But as I say, I’m trying to prepare a team to win our next game.

"We want to keep the squad intact and keep our best players. There is my determination but obviously aware of the club’s side and FFP is affecting all football clubs. You look at this window, it’s been very strange, very different from last year and that’s a consequence of that. We’re no different from any other club.

He added: "Things are changing on a daily basis. We are working behind the scenes on lining up targets and potentially players we can bring in but there are no guarantees that’ll happen.

"We’ve got a little bit of time left before the window closes but of course it is my aim to try and leave the window with the strongest squad possible. That won’t change.”