'Look stupid' - Eddie Howe responds to eight Newcastle United transfer questions as talks revealed

The Magpies won 2-0 at the MKM Stadium in the club’s first friendly in front of a crowd this summer. Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy netted in the first-half before a host of under-21s players featured from 60 minutes with 19 senior players unavailable.

As Newcastle gear up to the new Premier League campaign, there is a clamour for transfers news from the terraces. Howe’s side signed Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and made Lewis Hall’s loan move permanent on July 1 but haven’t been active since.

In the eight transfer questions put to Howe, the Newcastle head coach revealed nothing was close in terms incoming but reassured supporters that talks are taking place every day, many of which have been positive.

Here’s the full transcript in full:

Any closer to any potential incomings? 

“Not at the moment, no.”

Have discussions taken place? Do you think there will be progress? 

“Of course we’re having discussions several times a day to try and move the squad forward and make sure we’re ready for a very tough Premier League season but I can’t give you false news. We’re working towards that, everyone wants the same end point but let’s see what happens.”

How important is it for you as head coach to maintain the final say on who signs?

“It’s not about having the final say, it’s about collaboration, and we’ve had really positive talks and we’re trying to bring the right players to the football club.

“It's never about one person’s decision and neither should it be. It’s about a group of people all coming together and making the right decisions all for the benefit of the football club.” 

Has the changes disrupted recruitment plans?

“No, I don't think disruption is the right word. Of course I am sort of at the end point of recruitment work as it were so of course I’m busy coaching the team. But of course, towards the end of collating information, that’s when I’ll have my input but there’s a lot of work going on always throughout the year trying to bring players in.”

Any further forward in talks from last week?

“There’s been a lot made of it but we’re just working normally as we would do towards the new season, there’s no difference. I can’t say my week from a normal pre-season has been any different. There’s been a lot of hard work on the training pitch and a lot of talks about transfer targets and trying to bring players in. Hopefully we get some movement on that soon.”

When do you expect progress on transfers to be made?

“It’s very difficult to judge. I’d love to give you definitive answers but I give you definitive answers you’ll hold me to it and I’m going to potentially look stupid. We are working to bring players in and that won’t stop.”

Do you feel frustrated by lack of transfers?

“I think when you’re the manager you probably always feel that emotion the most because you’ve got to put the team together and your future is going to be dictated by results. But I think that is the same for everyone through the club.

“We all want players in now but it’s a very slow market, a very difficult market - prices are high. All we can do is do our best to bring players in.”

Do you think it’ll be a busy month coming up?

“Difficult to predict. I don’t know.”