Newcastle United's game of patience in the summer transfer window is set to continue with Eddie Howe remaining calm in the face of spiralling prices and huge wage demands when it comes to the Magpies' recruitment business.
Howe was hoping to have forward players on board by now with the Premier League's big kick now just nine days away. The United manager spent time in long conversations with sporting director Dan Ashworth during the club's stay in Portugal this week, but admits he is no closer to a breakthrough.
Howe, who hinted earlier in the week that he could turn to a Premier League loan deal or two, was asked for an update on transfers in Lisbon before departing. And the former AFC Bournemouth boss said: "No update that I can give you currently. Work is still going on behind the scenes to try and strengthen the squad. But no, I’ve got nothing to give you, unfortunately."
Newcastle got off to a flying start in the window with the additions of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Targett but Howe admitted during the club's mini tour of Europe that it was a tough challenge to find the next star.
He said: "We want to improve the squad. We are really pleased with what we have done but we know we have got more to do.
"But it has got to be the right one, in the right position, so it is not simple. When you look at how our squad is built, it is not a simple puzzle to solve."
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