Newcastle United know their next summer transfer move after confirming £30m deal

Despite taking their summer spending count to £127million earlier this week, Newcastle United remain active in the summer transfer market.

Having signed two forwards, a midfielder and a right-back, the Magpies are plotting their next area to attack.

Which players have signed for Newcastle United this summer?

Newcastle have made four new signings so far this summer, with two of those starring during the 5-1 Premier League opening day win over Aston Villa.

It took Sandro Tonali just six minutes to open his Newcastle account following his £52million plus add-ons move from Italian giants AC Milan. Meanwhile, Harvey Barnes, who scored after coming as sub, and Livramento have joined from Leicester City and Southampton, respectively, for a combined total of around £68m.

Newcastle’s first summer signing Yankuba Minteh won’t feature for Howe’s first team until next year at the earliest after he was loaned to Dutch champions Feyenoord on the same day his £7m switch from Danish club Odense Boldklub was announced.

Will Newcastle United make any more signings?

After completing the Livramento deal, Howe is hopeful the club can recruit one more player.

“You can sit here and say ‘yes I think we have a perfect squad’ then get five or six injuries and go ‘jesus, it doesn’t look the same now’,” said Howe, speaking on Friday. “Personally, I’d love one more player and then I think we’d have the ideal depth at this moment with the injuries that we currently have. But, let’s wait and see.”

Howe was then asked if he had assurances the funds were there to seal a fifth summer signing. The United head coach said: “That’s a good question! Not 100% because it depends on the deal. I think we may have to be creative with this last player.

“It’s difficult to make that a definite because again it would depends on injuries between now and the window shutting.”

Asked what the term “creative” means, Howe replied: “I’m not sure! It means that we can’t just go out and slap money on the table and buy a player.

“We don’t have the resources to do that at the moment due to Financial Fair Play restrictions. It’s about trying to find a different way, rather than paying money in the here and now.”

With that in mind, It’s understood Newcastle are in the market for a right-sided centre-half. Fabian Schar’s hamstring injury in pre-season, although very minor, has reinforced the need to strengthen that area.

While 19-year-old Alex Murphy caught the eye in pre-season, the only senior option behind Schar is club captain Jamaal Lascelles. There is Dan Burn, Sven Botman and Paul Dummett but Howe would prefer not to move the left-footed trio over to the right side.

Although Howe is prepared to call upon Lascelles, it’s no secret that the 29-year-old isn’t as comfortable in possession as the Switzerland international, or indeed Botman. Schar and Botman recorded the joint-best defensive record in the league last season.

Similar to signing Livramento as Trippier’s long-term replacement, Newcastle are eyeing a defender who has similar qualities to Schar and can therefore challenge the 31-year-old, whose contract expires next June. Signing a left-back could also happen, if the right player becomes available.

What about outgoings?

After trimming the wage bill by offloading Allan Saint-Maximin and Karl Darlow to Al Ahli and Leeds United, respectively, last month, Newcastle hope to get three more high earners off their books.

Unwanted trio Ryan Fraser, Jeff Hendrick and Isaac Hayden continue to pick up around £150,000-per-week between them, costing the club more than £600,000 per month in wages. And that is exactly why a move to the Championship is proving nigh impossible, unless Newcastle pay a significant portion of their salary.

Another player to mention is Javier Manquillo. The Spaniard, who is currently sidelined with a groin issue, made just six appearances last season and is expected to fall further down the pecking order following Livramento’s arrival.