Martin Dubravka and James Trafford latest as Newcastle boss issues January warning
EDDIE HOWE has warned about the dangers of doing nothing in this month’s transfer window, but admitted the Premier League’s financial rules could still force Newcastle United to head into the final four months of the season without bringing in a new signing.
The opening week of the window has seen most of the transfer talk surrounding the Magpies revolve around potential outgoings.
Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab have held talks over a deal for Martin Dubravka, and while the Slovakian continues to find himself in Howe’s starting side in the absence of the injured Nick Pope, there have been suggestions in the Middle East that Dubravka could make his final Newcastle appearance in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Arsenal.
Miguel Almiron was an unused substitute in Saturday’s win at Tottenham, with MLS side Charlotte FC continuing to hold talks over his future. Almiron is understood to be keen on a return to the United States, although Charlotte are yet to come up with a financial package that would be acceptable to the Newcastle hierarchy.
Ideally, Newcastle would like to make one or two additions this month, with Burnley’s James Trafford having been lined up as the club’s ideal long-term goalkeeping acquisition.
Newcastle tried to sign Trafford in the summer, only for Burnley to rebuff their advances, but the Magpies have retained their interest in the England international, who is regarded as an ideal replacement for Dubravka.
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However, any arrivals this month would have to be offset by sales ahead of the June accountancy deadline for PSR calculations. Even if the Magpies were to bring in money from players leaving, not making a signing in January could increase the scope for spending in future windows.
Howe accepts there are delicate financial considerations at play, but the Newcastle boss has nevertheless warned about the risks involved in failing to strengthen the squad. He has previously spelled out the danger of the Magpies’ squad ‘going stale’, and was quick to point out that the matchday group at Spurs at the weekend contained every fit and available player he could call upon.
“My method is that when you go into every window, you have the mindset that you’re trying to improve the team and the squad if you can,” said the Newcastle boss, whose side climbed to within a point of the top four when they won in north London. “That has to be your view, otherwise you’re going to stand still or regress.
“But these days, it’s changed. It’s what you can do, rather than what you want to do. We’re still in the same position, where we’re looking at it and saying, ‘Are we able to do anything?’
“If we’re not, we’ll go with what we’ve got, and I always say that the players that are currently here are always the most important people.
“The players are playing well at the moment, but our squad is very thin. The squad we had at Tottenham was basically everyone who is fit and available. Everyone who could play was here with us. So, we don’t have a huge array of players. But we have some very good ones.”
