Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe insists that the club's hardworking scouting network will not stop despite the Magpies facing a tough PSR backdrop in 2025.

As Chronicle Live reported on Thursday, head of recruitment Steve Nickson was in the stands for Brentford's 2-2 draw with Manchester City as he looked to run the rule over Bryan Mbeumo, who is believed to be a long-term Toon transfer target with a £50million price tag on his shoulders. The Magpies also like Burnley stopper James Trafford, valued at £20m, and Southampton youngster £25m-rated Tyler Dibling with emphasis swaying towards the summer transfer window and a possible spending spree later in the year.

The acquisition of the three stars named above, along with retaining the services of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, and Tino Livramento, would put Newcastle in with a genuine chance of challenging for the top three next season. However, as things stand, Howe knows Newcastle must tread carefully because of the PSR rule book and the threat of points deduction.

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This weekend, the club will assemble its scouts from around the UK, Europe, and beyond, with a summit at the club expected at St James' Park. They will be addressed by sporting director Paul Mitchell before taking their seats in the Milburn Stand to watch the Bournemouth game.

As teams like Bournemouth, led by transfer chief Tiago Pinto, battle in the market for stars, Howe will not need reminding that the Cherries are right in the thick of things recruitment wise and his ex-club pose a major threat to his current employers.

When asked if the scouts would need a gee up, speaking to Chronicle Live today Howe said: "I have enough people to motivate! That would be a strange one giving a team talk to a group of scouts. Your scouting network never changes, even if you are active or not."

Howe has already alluded to the prospect of the PSR rules changing at some stage and knows that if that is the case, Newcastle may have to ensure they are ready to go toe to toe with top-flight rivals in the market.

He went on: "You have to be out watching players, building knowledge and you have to an eye on the unexpected that might happen, and we're able to recruit. We can't rest for one second. And those people (the scouts) involved don't need to be motivated. They know there is a lot of pressure on their shoulders to identify the next players we need."

It remains to be seen how much funding is released in the summer but in the past CEO Darren Eales has spoken of creating financial headroom to recruit. With Miguel Almiron a potential departure this month it is thought that the Paraguay star's exit to his old club Atlanta United would enhance the opportunities in the summer.

When asked if it was therefore a risk to play him against Bournemouth and potentially scupper the move through an injury, Howe stated he was prepared to play a high sticks game as the threat of losing the player's services and losing the transfer fee dangles in front of him.

Howe said: "Everything is a risk. I have a player in the squad that's fit and available, he wants to play. I have to use him to the best benefit of Newcastle United. Until the day he's not here."