Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits that the Magpies could "do nothing" in the January window.

Sources at Newcastle believe that the club's PSR situation could look a lot brighter by the time the summer trading period comes around with revenue streams hopefully set to flourish in the first part of 2025 and other contracts expected to run down with departures expected in the close season. The feeling from those around the club at the moment is that any January business, which has not been fully ruled out by Howe, would mean current senior players being sold.

Agonisingly, the club's wealthy backers do have money to spend and ambition but fears of a points deduction caused by the PSR rule book are currently holding the club back - much to the delight of some of the club's Premier League rivals.

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When asked by Chronicle Live what the plan actually is with no "pot of cash" and a declaration over the weekend that Alexander Isak or Bruno Guimaraes would not be sold, Howe was unsure how he could freshen up his existing roster.

He told Chronicle Live: "I don't know the answer. I don't know if freshening up the squad is something that we will necessarily look to do. In the window we have coming up with the situation that we are in, freshening up is a dangerous word, because what does that mean?

"Any player that we bring into the club has to have value. Short-term or long-term. And of course we don't want to destabilise the squad by losing players either. So it could be a case that we do nothing this January and move on to the summer."

When pressed on what the challenge would be in terms of recruitment and keeping things ticking along going into 2025, Howe responded: "The challenge for the team is to be successful. With a successful team, everything is easier across the board in every respect.

"The challenge for me is to push the team to those heights. We’re in the semi-final of a cup and that’s a massive thing for everyone on the horizon that brings real positivity. Our league form is improving and if we can continue to improve we’ll put ourselves in a good position. Everything is linked to that.

"But, away from the football, we have a duty to look after the players, to treat them well and give them the environment that they really enjoy. Then there is other stuff behind that in terms of their contracts. So, it’s a multi-linked thing, but on the pitch is the most important."