‘I'm not’ - Eddie Howe issues damning statement on Newcastle United transfer plans
Eddie Howe has admitted he is focused on coaching the team and will not be involved in winter transfer plans until late next month.
Toon chiefs are under pressure to deliver in January following the summer turmoil. Fans were left frustrated once the Magpies failed to make a significant first-team signing - despite Paul Mitchell arriving as sporting director.
That disillusionment has spilled into the new campaign, with Newcastle sitting 12th after nine games. The consensus is that the Magpies - dictated heavily by FFP/PSR restrictions - have not improved the team in the previous two transfer windows.
Reports have already linked United with moves for several stars in recent weeks. Reigniting the failed Marc Guehi bid has been mooted as he enters the final 18 months of his contract.
A push for a right-sided attacker - regarded by many as a weakness - has also been floated. NewcastleWorld understands this was a target area before Guehi became the priority.
But the manager, under pressure following five Premier League games without a win, has been left mainly in the dark. Howe does not expect to be engaged in lengthy transfer discussions until the end of November.
“I'd say a very small part from my input,” he said before the 2-0 win over Chelsea. “At the moment, we're in a flood of games and I'm focusing very much on the team, the training, the games we have. We've had a couple of internal meetings behind the scenes but no more than that.
“They're all important, there's never one that doesn't feel that way because you never know what will happen. My part in that will probably take prominence from the end of November. There'll be a lot of work being done behind the scenes that I'm not necessarily a part of. I'll start to get involved probably at the end of November, start of December.”