Newcastle United's Kalvin Phillips truth and Eddie Howe reflects on Yasir Al-Rumayyan jetting in
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has spoken about what the rest of the January window looks like at St James' Park
Eddie Howe has admitted that Newcastle United's financial situation meant that they had to "step away" from signing Kalvin Phillips in the January window.
The England midfielder was paraded by West Ham on the morning Howe admitted that the club had been through an "unsettling" week at St James' Park. With Toon supremo Yasir bin Al-Rumayyan in the North-East for talks with Amanda Staveley at picturesque Alnwick, it has raised hopes that their could be a transfer breakthrough for Newcastle.
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In short, United may need to sell a player to bring a player in to satisfy FFP and PSR rules, but Howe was unsure whether he will be able to add a new name to his squad or not.
Howe said: "We have a little bit of time to go but it is my aim to leave the window with the strongest squad possible. And that won't change."
When asked about the board meeting at Alnwick Castle, Howe said: "I wasn't there. I knew the meeting was happening. I must have missed the invitation!
"The board are always understanding of my job and let me focus on the training and everything I need to do. There was probably lots discussed on that and it will impact the long-term future of the club."
During a packed Press conference, Howe vowed to fight to keep the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron. And stated he wanted a strong squad come the end of the January trading period.
Howe said: "Things are changing on a daily basis. We're working behind the scenes on targets.
"But there's no guarantee it will happen. It's my end to try and leave the window with the strongest squad possible and that won't change.
"It's been a difficult window so far. It's the first time since I've been manager that we've been linked with players leaving. That creates an unsettling dynamic. A lot of those rumours have been just that. Rumours. I'm trying to prepare our team for the next game."