Magpies will not pay ‘silly fees’, says Howe
From our perspective, we’ve got a very good squad. So to sign players and make the squad better, it’s difficult
Eddie Howe
NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe has stated that the Magpies will not pay “silly fees” for players after submitting what could be a final offer for Marc Guehi.
Howe made it clear that Newcastle are prepared to walk away from the Guehi deal if things don’t advance in the next few days.
United have placed a new £65m offer for the England centre-back but Howe indicated that could be the last time they knock on the door.
When asked if United might walk away, Howe said: “We have done (walked away) many times especially early on when there was very much a Newcastle tax. When we would turn up the price would double. Many times we would not go down that road where we are overpaying for players. I think it has changed slightly because people have seen our dynamic and we aren’t going to pay silly fees for players.”
Given Palace’s very public stance on discussing Newcastle’s recruitment business this week, there could be no denying Guehi was the man on the radar for United. But Howe said there is nothing unusual about wanting to sign the best players.
Howe, speaking ahead of today’s clash with Southampton, said: “Everyone is looking for the best players. From our perspective, we’ve got a very good squad. “So to sign players and make the squad better, it’s difficult. “But it’s achievable – we can do it. But we don’t want to make a signing and three months down the line think ‘it hasn’t kicked us on’ and you’re just adding numbers. The players who can take the team on is what we’re looking for.”
In a week in which Newcastle star Miguel Almiron saw an offer from MLS side Charlotte turned down, Howe stated he was not disappointed the forward looks to be staying.
He said: “There’s been a lot of speculation with Miggy over the summer and I’m sure that has been very difficult for him. He’s a very valued member of the squad. He’s very much with us, we value his qualities and what he brings – and I hope he has a great season.”
The head coach is desperate to start the season with a big win against Southampton but knows it won’t be an easy test.
Howe said: “Russell (Martin) has done a great job and I have always admired his style of play from Swansea to Southampton. He is very clever and astute. All of those things add up to a complex game for us and this will be a difficult game.”
ANY manager naturally follows his own beliefs when picking his team for battle, but it is particularly interesting when it is the first game of a brand new season because it is imperative to get off to a good start.
Especially at Newcastle United when expectation is so high, you are playing in front of 50,000 of your own fans, and a newly promoted team is in opposition.
So what should Eddie Howe do? What key decisions has he to make? The first and biggest is unquestionably at right-back. Who should start – Tino Livramento or Kieran Trippier? Great question and I will nail my colours to the mast straight away. It has to be Tino for me. A decision has to be made for the longer term as well as now and Livramento is ready. He cannot be held back any longer.
However, I’ll cause a few ripples by going further and making a selection which will cause a few raised eyebrows. I would still keep Trippier in the team to face Southampton. I would play him at left-back. Yes ahead of both Lewis Hall and Lloyd Kelly both of whom have got good futures with United. I knew that would be controversial. Tripps played left-back magnificently for England at the Euros. He was consistent and clever in the way he did it. He is a player’s player.
Hall is still learning, especially defensively, and I feel Kelly is not quite up to pace as yet which is why for this one match I would also start Dan Burn alongside Fabian Schar left side of centrehalf.
In midfield the two Brazilians are a shoo-in and I would pair them with Sean Longstaff. Howe admits that Joe Willock is not yet 100% but I would have started Sean anyway. If he is not fully appreciated by some fans it is because he does the unseen dirty work winning the ball, being supportive and releasing Bruno and Big Joe to go and play.
Up top it goes without saying that Anthony Gordon gets the left sided birth ahead of Harvey Barnes to support Alexander Isak, and Jacob Murphy has to be on the right. Murphy has earned that right ahead of Miggy Almiron and it would be a slur on him to switch Gordon across to accommodate Barnes. It would also reduce the impact of Gordon.
So my starting XI would be: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Trippier; Bruno, Longstaff, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
With the likes of Hall, Kelly, Willock, Barnes, Almiron and Will Osula on the bench that is far too much firepower for Southampton. It is imperative that United get off to a flyer taking all three points and I expect them to by at least a two-goal margin. Saturday is a mood setter and we need it to be positive.
Mind you, I still want United to sign before the transfer window closes. They may have enough in-house to defeat the Saints but harder opposition lies ahead.
Having made four bids for Marc Guehi and topped £60m they have to go the whole hog and get him. To fail at the 11th hour having taken so long over negotiations and walk away empty handed is not the start new director of football Paul Mitchell would want. It would be a dreadful anti-climax and depress the faithful. Right now let us be on the front foot. It is the start of what can be a terrific season. Let Newcastle put down a marker.