Newcastle United transfer state of play amid ‘growing confidence’ of securing fourth summer signing

There are now just two weeks to go until the transfer window closes and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe still has some big calls to make.

Former loan star Matt Targett, England goalkeeper Nick Pope and Lille defender Sven Botman has already joined the Magpies and at least one attacking option will be added to Howe’s squad over the next fortnight.

The mood around Tyneside is one of expectancy and hope as further new arrivals are awaited and it seems highly likely more players will follow Dwight Gayle and Ciaran Clark in leaving St James Park during the coming weeks.

NewcastleWorld assesses where the Magpies are at with two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining:

Stating the obvious

Without question, the priority is adding further attacking threat to the Magpies squad.

That could come in the form of an out-and-out striker, a wide player with the ability to lead the line, or an creative midfielder in the mould of Leicester City star James Maddison.

With Financial Fair Play regulations to take into consideration, it would be highly unlikely to see two cash deals being completed, meaning United will be more than open to the possibility of a loan deal being completed over the next fortnight.

Interest in Chelsea trio Armando Broja, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic is genuine and contact has been made with other top six clubs over other possible loan signings.

Watford’s highly-rated Brazilian Joao Pedro is another target and the possibility of submitting a second bid for the £35million-rated forward is under consideration.

It has been reported there is ‘a growing confidence’ a deal can be agreed.

Adding at least one forward player is the clear and obvious priority for the Magpies hierachy and they are said to be ‘working around the clock’ to make that happen.

Four into three doesn’t go

As it stands, Eddie Howe has four senior goalkeepers to work with.

Summer arrival Nick Pope has enjoyed a positive start to his career at St James Park and has become the first Magpies stopper to keep clean sheets in the first two Premier League games of the season since Tim Krul in 2011.

One senior goalkeeper did depart when Freddie Woodman joined Preston North End and there has been speculation Martin Dubravka or Karl Darlow could also exit the club before the window closes.

Dubravka was linked with a move to Leicester City in recent weeks and there has been talk Middlesbrough were keen on Darlow prior to their move for Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Mark Gillespie remains with the club and is now into the final 12 months of the three-year deal he signed in the summer of 2020.

Unlike last summer, United will not name four senior goalkeepers in their Premier League squad and that presents two possible scenarios - either Dubravka, Darlow or Gillespie depart, or one of the trio simply misses out.

Further outfield departures?

There are still question marks over several current Magpies and the fact remains a number of players will be left out of the 25-man Premier League squad.

As mention earlier, one goalkeeper will miss out or be sold over the next fortnight, but there are questions to be asked elsewhere.

Emil Krafth’s new contract gives a strong hint he is viewed as the main backup for first-choice right-back Kieran Trippier and that means United could allow Javier Manquillo to depart.

On the opposite side of the defence, Matt Targett is in possession of the shirt and Howe can call on Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis and Matt Ritchie as alternative options should the Aston Villa man be unavailable.

Howe has spoken of his admiration for all three players, but opted to utilise Dan Burn at left-back in Saturday’s goalless draw at Brighton and Hove Albion, with Dummett and Ritchie both watching on from the bench.

Lewis continues to work his way back from injury and could be allowed to depart on loan to get regular game-time elsewhere and Ritchie has been linked with a move away after giving six years of sterling service on Tyneside.

The heart of the defence has very quickly become an area of strength for Howe with Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and summer signing Sven Botman all impressing during pre-season and during the opening two games of the Premier League campaign.

That has left club captain Jamaal Lascelles to watch on from the sidelines and experienced defender Federico Fernandez remains a Magpies player and is back in training.

However, with Howe preferring to field a two-man centre-back partnership, losing one of his five options in that area remains a possibility at this stage.

A loan move seems likely for midfielder Matty Longstaff after he spent the second half of last season with Mansfield Town.

Given the lack of options in the attacking third, it seems highly unlikely any of United’s wingers or forwards will depart over the next fortnight.

The Elliot Anderson equation

The real high-point of the pre-season fixtures was Elliot Anderson’s performances against some high-calibre opposition.

The youngster shone during a loan spell at Bristol Rovers last season as he helped Joey Barton’s side to promotion into League One.

A second loan move seemed likely but his form during pre-season - coupled with Jonjo Shelvey’s injury - means Anderson is set to remain at St James Park for at least the first half of the Premier League season.

At just 19, Anderson will not be required to form part of Eddie Howe’s 25-man Premier League squad, but his development will be at the forefront of any decision over his future.

Howe has spoken warmly of Anderson’s progress during his time at Rovers and in preparations for the new Premier League season.

It would be a safe assumption to say he will be handed a start in the Carabao Cup tie at Tranmere Rovers and that would prove the youngster with vital game-time.

But the arrival of a midfielder such as James Maddison or Conor Gallagher could free up Anderson to depart on loan and continue his development away from Tyneside.

Possible loan moves for academy players

There has been plenty of movement in United’s academy ranks with Jordan Hackett, Charlie McArthur, Alex Murphy and Jude Smith all joining over the last two months.

A total of 13 youngsters were released at the end of last season and there was a permanent departure as Lewis Cass joined Port Vale after impressing during a loan spell with the League Two club.

At this point in time, goalkeeper Dan Langley is the only loan departure after he joined National League neighbours Gateshead on a season-long deal.

Loan manager Shola Ameobi and assistant Peter Ramage could be busy over the next week with several Magpies youngsters attracting interest from clubs willing to hand them a chance to shine in the senior game.

Midfielder Joe White and defender Matty Bondswell both spent time out on loan last season and could be handed a second chance to shine away from Tyneside - although an injury to White may delay any potential move.

Jay Turner-Cooke has impressed Howe during his time at the club and travelled with the first-team squad during pre-season trips to Austria and Portugal.  His development could be progressed with a first loan move of his career.

Defender Niall Brookwell and striker Dylan Stephenson have interest from clubs in England and Scotland after signing new deals - but it seems a loan move during the January transfer window could be more likely.