Newcastle United are continuing to “spin plates” in their ongoing January hunt for a midfielder – but appear to have opted against cashing in on either of their experienced duo Kieran Trippier or Callum Wilson.
Newcastle had loan enquiries from Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid for 33-year-old Trippier and Wilson respectively but both have been turned down.
While there was feverish speculation about the future of Trippier, who must have been intrigued by an offer from Bavaria and another shot at Champions League glory, Eddie Howe was dead against losing such a pivotal figure with no guarantee of incomings.
And in an endorsement of the judgement of their head coach, Newcastle have indicated that he is not for sale, even if the club’s transfer plans have been hampered by their ongoing efforts to remain within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability regulations (PSR).
A loan bid for Wilson, who is not due back from injury until February, was similarly turned down with Newcastle uncertain of whether they would be able to recruit a replacement in a January transfer window that is proving difficult for all clubs looking to strengthen their squads.
Both are part of the senior leadership group and have played a big role in Newcastle’s rapid rise from relegation candidates to the Champions League. While there would certainly have been a financial argument to cashing in on both or either, it would have made life more challenging for Howe as he hopes to reinvigorate a difficult season at St James’ Park.
Newcastle have a crucial FA Cup fixture at Fulham on Saturday and the players returned to training after being granted a few days off. Neither player is understood to have reacted badly to the loan bids being rejected, even if there has apparently been dialogue with Bayern in Trippier’s case.
It sets up a fascinating final few days of the transfer window which will tell us much about the direction Newcastle’s project is heading in.
Newcastle’s hierarchy still hope to bring in a midfielder to boost Howe’s engine room options but unless they sell a big name they are resigned to it being a deal struck in the final days or even hours of the transfer window. That is also likely to be a loan.
They have some exciting targets – Everton’s Amadou Onana and Atalanta’s Ederson are both on the radar – but both would require significant outlays and the former would not be straightforward.
As i revealed last week, Everton want to double the £33m they spent to bring Onana from Lille, who have a sizeable sell-on fee.
After successive transfer windows where the focus has been on buying, comments from Newcastle chief executive Darren Eales earlier this month about the club’s need to trade in the future have given hope to rivals eyeing up a move for some of their players.
However, the club do not expect to cash in on crown jewels like Alexander Isak and Sven Botman. i understands that Bruno Guimaraes is also unlikely to leave this month, with the player himself settled in the North East and not agitating for a move.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/dLmzi3A
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