Eddie Howe: Newcastle cannot compete financially due to PSR restrictions as a transfer activity stands | Football news
Eddie Howe has admitted that restrictions on benefits and sustainability of the Premier League (PSR) “control” Newcastle’s ability to compete in the transfer market.
Newcastle endured an extremely frustrating summer, missing a multitude of transfer objectives while having to face without Alexander Isak.
The striker trains far from the first team and will miss the opening match of the first League of next weekend at Aston Villa after having told the club that he wanted to explore his options elsewhere.
The Isak saga added a greater urgency to the transfer activity of Newcastle, which has met repeated setbacks in recent weeks, with Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford and Joao Pedro, among others, sliding through their fingers.
They were already trying to recruit another striker to replace the deceased Callum Wilson before the winger Anthony Gordon box in a pre-season friendly defeat against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, adding to a disturbed summer.
“We are controlled by the PSR,” said Howe after the defeat in St James’ Park. “It always limits what we can do and it is reality.
“I have said on several occasions, we are not the highest payers in the league. We are far from it and it is sometimes reflected in the choices that players make.
“I don’t think there have been many players who came here and have not benefited from the experience that Newcastle can offer you.
“Playing in front of these supporters is an absolute privilege and an honor that has never lost me. It is a special place. Some players have a different choice. Finances play a role in there.”
Isak was the subject of a large -sized Liverpool auction this summer
The striker Sesko, strongly linked to Newcastle throughout the window, became the eighth player that Newcastle could not secure after choosing to join Manchester United.
Seven of these players signed for the rivals of Premier League.
Newcastle recently rejected an offer of 110 million pounds Sterling from Liverpool for Isak, who is still three years old on his contract, but the situation of the Swedish remains enveloped in uncertainty.
Asked after the 2-0 Saturday defeat against Atletico if he had to let the player go, Howe said: “This is a decision that I do not take, it will be for the others.”
Gordon’s injury adds to Newcastle misfortunes
Anthony Gordon has drink Newcastle pre-season friend with Atletico Madrid
In the absence of Isak, Gordon was forced to play as a fortune No. 9 in the last pre-season match on Saturday. However, with just over five minutes to play, the international in England hindered to worry Newcastle supporters.
After the match, Howe confirmed that Gordon had undergone an ankle injury, but hoped that he would not be too serious.
“We hope it is fine. This is an ankle problem,” said Howe.
“We first thought it was a muscle. The good news is that it is just a twist. The initial feeling is that it should be ok.”
In better news for Howe, Newcastle is supposed to materialize in an agreement for AC Milan Defender Malick ThiawAlthough he said: “I have prepared these two games in the past two days, so I’m not updated on everything that has happened.”
