Newcastle United owners' fresh criticism as Shearer's Match of the Day co-star blasts transfer calls

Arsenal legend and former Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright has hit out at the transfer inactivity at Newcastle United, with a claim Eddie Howe has been let down by the club's board. The Gunners great has questioned why certain players remain at the club, using the continued presence of the likes of Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy as evidence for stagnation and a lack of support for Howe, who he says will have wanted to have more fresh faces in his squad.

While Newcastle's owners went on an immediate spending spree following the completion of the takeover three years ago, the past two transfer windows have seen no new first team arrivals as the pressure of Profit and Sustainability Rules have hit, and the signs are not looking promising for January with Howe having suggested recently that departures will be needed next month to facilitate any new arrivals.

The issues around spending rules and financial fair play are well known, but it is the failure to not move on players from the previous regime and an inability to find a way of giving Howe new options which has drawn the ire of Wright.

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Speaking on the Kelly & Wrighty show, he said: “You look at where Newcastle are, there are certain players (still there) like Murphy and Almiron. There’s no way when the new owners came in, how long is it since the new owners have been there? Three years on there are players who are still in and around that would be there.

“Nobody can tell me Eddie Howe wasn’t expecting more spending and more players. There’s no way three years on that Newcastle thought this would be where they’d be. I don’t know where they are.”

Newcastle are looking to move Almiron on in January after the player turned down an option to move in the summer, with a lack of game time this season prompting a greater desire on behalf of the player to find a suitable resolution. Murphy could also follow Almiron out the door, but it is more likely Kieran Trippier could be the player to leave next month if Newcastle need to reduce their salary spend and bring in income to aid their transfer activity.