Advertisement

Newcastle United make Lewis Miley decision as they look to avoid June 30 disaster

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Newcastle United have already made financial moves to ensure they don't face another disastrous summer in the transfer market.

It was as the Premier League's June 30 financial health check deadline approached last year that both Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh were sold in order to raise the £65million to avoid a points deduction. Sporting director Paul Mitchell has admitted that without those sales, Newcastle would have been docked vital points and while Eddie Howe was against losing both stars, he had to reluctantly accept the situation.

Howe said yesterday: "We were faced with literally no other option in that moment with 48 hours to go, we had to make a decision that we did not want to make. It will always be our last choice to do that. But, when you add up everything together and you go, Well, it’s a points deduction and breaching PSR or making a sale, I think you have to make the sale."

READ MORE: Newcastle United scout 6ft 3in star who has intriguing release clause in his contract

READ MORE: Arsenal entitlement is laughable as Jay Bothroyd so wrong about Alexander Isak and Newcastle

This time around, Newcastle aren't expected to leave it to the last minute and sales will be made in good time before things get too close to the wire. The Magpies are believed to have more plans and better choices to ensure they don't fall foul of a points deduction, something they did avoid last time but needed painful action to swerve clear of it.

The prospect of getting a sale done in January is sill a strong possibility this month with Miguel Almiron available to go for the right fee and now potentially Lloyd Kelly after Fenerbahce's interest alerted the player's agent to the club's willingness to do business after just six months on Tyneside.

Howe finds himself in a tricky position of knowing he may have to sell stars but also having to keep them motivated as Newcastle fight on three fronts. Both Kelly and Almiron had to play against Bromley in order to give some first-team regulars a much-needed breather.

It's why the head coach is wary of shutting the door on a player during Press conferences, when asked about Almiron, Howe simply said yesterday: "I've not heard anything. He's an important part of the squad".

With interest from MLS clubs, including Charlotte FC and Toronto FC, there is still a chance he could leave this month. But what about something that does cause a few vibrations at St Jame's Park?

Something like the Anderson or Minteh sales? It's no secret that selling Academy products like Anderson means pure and instant profit. Sean Longstaff has already been linked with Everton but what about the unthinkable. Howe was asked about the prospect of selling future England star Lewis Miley.

He said: "The last thing we want to do, or I want to do as the manager of the club, is to sell academy products who have the potential to play for this team for many years. Elliot was a case in point - it was the last sale we wanted to make. We knew his qualities and he had just broken into the team towards the back end of last season. He had performed really well in a variety of roles for us."

So between now and June 30, Newcastle will look to tidy up the so called rough edges of their squad. Any incoming business this month means somebody must leave between now and the summer, and then the hope is things will become clearer in terms of bigger business at the start of the next window.

If this January becomes the third barren window in a row, that would feel long overdue.