Eddie Howe issues Newcastle United January transfer update after triple £138m decision

The Magpies have failed to make a major signing in the last two transfer windows and were weakened by the lost of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, who they sold for a combined £68million in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), in June.

Howe’s side tried to recruit Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in the summer but refused to meet his £70million asking price. Still, PSR remains a big issue, and United would likely have to sell someone should they buy in January.

Although Howe knows strengthening the squad next month is difficult, he admits “freshness is important”. Newcastle, who have aspirations to qualify for Europe again, are 11th in the Premier League after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Asked if the squad needed fresh investment in January, Howe replied: “I think there is a desire from everyone at the club to deliver that. But then you have to go to the realities of what is possible. You have to make decisions for the here and now, but also for the future. We have to make sure we don’t put ourselves in a position where the summer becomes very, very difficult to do what we need to do, or future windows beyond.

“I think freshness is important in a squad, I won’t sit here and deny that. There needs to be a certain element of trading in and out to keep the group dynamic new. A new dynamic and a new team always has to form every season.

“Sometimes, the same squad can produce a staleness and a negative product. So I think we’re aware of that. But it’s about what we’re able to do rather than, “I want”. “I want” is clear. It’s what we’re able to do that is the key thing.”

Pressed on his use of the word “staleness”, Howe replied: "We haven't had a huge turnover of players and that's a slight concern but if you bring too many players in, that can have a negative impact in terms of upheaval of the team and relationships are not forming and vice-versa the other way.

“You can keep that staleness away in various ways: innovation from us in terms of the team, training, loads of team-building stuff and different things you can do to make sure the players are not coming into the same environment."

Howe, though, was keen to add that it isn’t just about lack of incomings. The Newcastle boss referenced Minteh and Anderson’s departures, while admitting it is his job to get the best out of the players he’s got. Indeed, it is squad that still boasts world class talent such as Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes.

He added: “Of course there was a want from us to do so, especially in the summer, where we saw a couple of players that we felt could have made a difference in different positions but it didn’t happen and the other side is we lost - although we never had Yankuba Minteh - we lost with him and Elliot, two key players for us, so it’s not just the lack of incomings it’s losing two talented young guys as well.

“That goes with the territory and we just have to adapt and make the best of the situation and I still believe in the squad we have. The squad we have is a very good squad and it is our job to do better with it.”