‘Since the takeover...’ - Eddie Howe responds to shock Newcastle United transfer report

Eddie Howe has dismissed speculation linking Newcastle United with moves for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

This isn’t the first time the Magpies have been linked with superstars names since the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, PCP Partners and RB Sports & Media took ownership of the club in October 2021.

But those rumours of St James’ Park being a potential destination for Ronaldo and Neymar, who could leave Al Nassr and Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign, have resurfaced this week.

Howe, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal, has shut down those links for two reasons. The first is not being able to afford that profile of currently, and the second is being the right fit for the team.

Asked about Ronaldo and Neymar specifically, Howe replied: “It doesn’t frustrate me. Those two players are unbelievable players. We are linked with different names. I know what direction I want to take the team in and what we can and can’t do in the transfer market. A lot of the names will not be accurate.”

He added: “That kind of speculation has been there from day one since the takeover, really. Naturally, everyone has then assumed the biggest names in world football will be going to Newcastle. Now we’ve not recruited that way.

“I think financially, we can’t recruit that way at the moment, but also we have to bring the right people and the right players into the group.

“I will say the transfer market is such a complex decision, you can’t just pick a name and bring them in. There’s got to be a lot of thought going into what we’re doing both financially and looking a the players."

Rather than target already established superstars, Howe is focused on finding one in the making. Although Champions League football is just around the corner, United will stick to the transfer policy that have served them so well.

As well as signing a mix of Premier League experience, Newcastle have gone overseas to sign Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak.

“It is best to discover them before they explode onto the world scene,” said Howe. “We could not be able to come close to affording those players as they are the best players in the world. We are never going to be in a position currently to afford those transfer fees and wages, so we need to go underneath and find them young and develop them into the players they can be.

“In order for a club to be truly successful, the head coach needs to have a strong hand on transfers. The players have to come into your style of play. They have to be linked to your philosophy. Only someone in my position can turly understand what that is.

“You need a good recruitment team and the right players presented to you but then you have to pick iwsely. And me and my coaching team spend alot of time trying to identify the right players.”

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