Eddie Howe admits FFP could limit Newcastle in January transfer window

Eddie Howe believes Newcastle should not rest on the success of their top-three standing and wants to improve his team in January – but the head coach accepts funds could be limited by FFP.

We understand that means deals for the likes of Leicester’s James Maddison are extremely unlikely given the financials that would be involved, although Howe remains an admirer.

The club’s model, at present, is also more geared towards identifying players they can develop and at prices they believe represent value, such as Bruno Guimaraes (£36million) and Sven Botman (£32m).

Newcastle are currently training in Saudi Arabia during the break for the World Cup 

Howe will hold a transfer meeting with sporting director Dan Ashworth and co-owners Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben here in Saudi Arabia this week, as they prepare for the New Year window.

Sources say ‘one in, one out’ is the most likely scenario after a year in which the Saudi-backed owners have spent in excess of £200m on eight new players.

However, Howe will also stress that their current position in the Champions League places should be a reason to kick on and strengthen. He spoke to us from the team hotel in Riyadh on Tuesday, where he addressed January dealings for the first time.

‘As a manager, I am always looking to improve the team,’ he said. ‘I will never sit here and be content – I don’t think that is the right way to manage.

Miguel Almiron’s incredible start to the season may have changed Newcastle’s plans

‘My way to take the team to new heights is to improve through the training of the players we have. If we can’t get to a certain level, then we need to find that in the transfer market.

‘In my position, you are keen to sign the best players you can – but those players come at a premium. Botman wasn’t cheap, Alex Isak (£60m) wasn’t cheap. Those are players who can influence the starting XI.

‘Do we have the finances for that? I do not know. That might impact our options. It is a considerable outlay the club have to find and with FFP, I’m not sure that’s available to us. You have to work within the guidelines of the club.’

One position Newcastle are certain to bolster is right back, with West Ham’s Harrison Ashby and Leeds United’s Cody Drameh both on the shortlist.

But, elsewhere, Howe says performance of certain players during the first part of the season has changed his thinking on transfers. He did not name Miguel Almiron, but his outstanding form from the right-wing position has lessened the need for signings in that area.

West Ham’s Harrison Ashby is one of the players Newcastle could go after 

So, have priorities changed since the summer?

‘Probably, yes, I would say,’ he said. ‘You are always making new impressions and opinions on players because of what you are seeing in matches and training. The squad, in my eyes, looks different to what it did in the summer because of how well players have done – and from my perspective, I can’t ignore that.

‘We look like, on paper, we have a very strong squad when everyone is fit. Everyone is not fit currently, and that has a bearing on what you look to do in January. I am not expecting too much business, whether incoming or outgoing, but it is football and it is January, so it’s unpredictable.

‘We can’t predict what is going to happen with our own squad, in terms of fitness and availability, so we do need to be ready to act if we need to.’

There is also, for Howe, the consideration of disturbing a group dynamic that has taken them so high in the league, with five wins on the spin before the World Cup.

Howe is pleased with the chemistry of the group and wary of upsetting it 

‘These are the difficult decisions when you are in my shoes that you have to make.’ he said. ‘You can sign a very good player, but the chemistry is not quite right and the team doesn’t do as well as maybe everybody would have predicted.

‘You can fail to add new energy to the group and sometimes the group can look a bit flat because you haven’t added to the dynamics, and that can change (things).

‘So my thought is always – every transfer window – try to improve the squad if we can, but I am aware the chemistry is brilliant within the group, and I don’t want to disturb that.’