‘I’ve started’ - Eddie Howe makes Newcastle United transfer claim amid Scott McTominay interest

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe admits the two-week international break allowed him to start thinking about the summer transfer window.

The Magpies head into the remaining 12 fixtures in a Premier League top four race. Howe’s men may fall short of Champions League qualification, but the chances of them being in Europe next season are high, with a top-seven finish looking increasingly likely.

With that being an extra competition to contend with, alongside the Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup, Newcastle’s recruitment team are expected to be busy as they look to add quality and depth to Howe’s relatively thin squad.

Howe says conversations with the club’s hierarchy surrounding transfers are yet to happen, but he has started the process of watching potential targets.

“When you have a period without a game naturally you look a bit longer term and things that are on the horizon,” said Howe, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United. “Recruitment becomes important.

“I’ve started that work myself. I haven’t necessarily had conversations with anyone at the club regarding the summer, but I’ve started the process of watching players.”

One player Newcastle have been heavily linked with this week is Scott McTominay. Howe enquired about the midfielder in January but Man United refused to do business with a direct rival. The league table, of course, will reset in the summer, and Howe retain an interest.

NewcastleWorld understands the Red Devils are willing to sell McTominay as a way of boosting their transfer funds in line with Financial Fair Play, but the Scotland international is one of many players under consideration.

Asked if he knew what positions he needed to strengthen, Howe said: “I think I would have an idea but it’s changeable. I know there’ll be a lot of rumours about this position and that position.

“I’m a manager and it’s not as clear cut as that because you have players who can change your mind, targets who you’re looking at so you need to identify the right players to come in and fill those positions, so it’s never as easy as that.”

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