With FFP affecting the club, there is still the possibility that anyone could leave – Eddie Howe


 
 
 
 
 
 

An interesting Eddie Howe press conference on Thursday morning.

The Newcastle United Head Coach speaking ahead of the new season which kicks off in nine days time against Southampton.

Ahead of that, United have a double-header at St James’ Park.

On Friday evening it is a friendly against Girona, then Saturday afternoon it is Brest who provide the opposition.

At his press conference of course, Eddie Howe was always going to be asked about the transfer window and what is and isn’t going to happen. With now 22 days time we will see the window close.

Eddie Howe was happy to talk about this morning’s confirmation of Will Osula signing from Sheffield United, though he refused to comment on what stage, if any, the Marc Guehi transfer is at.

The Newcastle United boss was also asked about potential outgoings and in particular asked about a media story on Wednesday night which claimed West Ham interest in Kieran Trippier.

Eddie Howe talking to Keith Downie of Sky Sports about Kieran Trippier – 8 August 2024:

“I don’t think Kieran Trippier is openly looking to leave.

“He has been very good in training this week.

“He has come back with an ambition to play and fight for his place, like every player does in pre-season.

“I see a player who is fully committed.

“I see him as a huge part of the team and the squad going forward.

“But while we are in this moment with FFP affecting the club, there is still the possibility that anyone could leave.

“I won’t talk about individual players but naturally with incomings there will be outgoings too.”

I have no doubts as to which line from Eddie Howe that will make headlines. That of course, if you can’t guess, is the one where he says ‘But while we are in this moment with FFP affecting the club, there is still the possibility that anyone could leave.’

However, I think it is very important, sorry, essential, to put this in the proper context, a proper perspective.

This isn’t Eddie Howe thinking for a moment that the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and any other key players will leave this month.

Instead, it is just the Newcastle United boss spelling out the reality.

For example, I am sure he would love Kieran Trippier to stay. However, if say a club came in and offered big money for a player who turns 34 next month, then that could well change that perspective, especially if combined with Trippier wanting to make that move. Kieran Trippier showed this summer that physically he is still in great condition, one of England’s best players at the Euros and starting all the matches until the final, when Southgate made the ridiculous decision to play Luke Shaw, who hadn’t started a game for England in 13 months and hadn’t started one for Man U in over five months.

Newcastle United knocked back Bayern Munich when they offered £13m for Trippier in January, so in my view, even though the England international turns 34 next month I think he can still play at a very high standard in the Premier League for another couple of seasons minimum. So whilst £20m+ would very possibly see Eddie Howe and Newcastle United selling the full-back, as that would strengthen their hand financially/PSR-wise, a Bayern Munich level offer or less I just don’t see it.

Reality is that all clubs are buying AND selling players now, both for their overall finances and especially to satisfy PSR.

So when Eddie Howe says any player could potentially be sold, it is just speaking out loud what is the reality for all clubs. If hypothetically another club offered say £150m for any Newcastle player, then I would say NUFC should definitely take it, because especially with the PSR help it would give, that would mean massive transfer business could be done by Newcastle United, over and above that basic £150m transfer fee if the club wanted to do it.

In more realistic terms, I think fans need to realise that to sell the players Eddie Howe might want to, then you need clubs who want to buy them AND make offers that work for Newcastle United.

Players such as Fraser and Hayden clearly need to move on as they have no future, however, there are also others who you assume Eddie Howe would also definitely trade if he could, if the right offers come in. I am thinking here of players who won’t even make the bench unless a lot of players unavailable.

More complicated when it comes to those who would still make matchday squads but Eddie Howe would be willing to trade if the right offer comes in.

For example, I can imagine one of Miguel Almiron or Jacob Murphy moving out this month, Almiron most likely, especially as he would almost certainly command the highest transfer fee. However, you need somebody to make that offer and possibly, it could be Murphy instead, if a good offer came in for him.

The bottom line of course, is that in reality, none of us expect any player that Eddie Howe really really wants to keep, will leave in this transfer window. Certainly nobody he sees as automatic first choice in their position.

However, even if Newcastle United ever do indeed sell such a player, then we know we can trust Eddie Howe and these NUFC owners to use that cash/PSR positive to invest in the squad, not act like Mike Ashley.