Eddie Howe has revealed that Newcastle United will have their 'eyes and ears' open to players who have been relegated because the market is going to be 'difficult' this summer.
Howe held discussions with the hierarchy on Saturday night about the club's finances for the upcoming window. The Newcastle boss readily admitted that the budget is 'never as big as you want it to be' before warning that Financial Fair Play will again 'impact what we do this summer'.
This will be Howe's toughest window yet as the Newcastle head coach attempts to improve a side that have overachieved and taken the Magpies back to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. Howe has repeatedly spoken about how Newcastle will need to be 'creative' and as well as targeting younger players on the continent, the black-and-whites will again move for individuals with Premier League experience.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe hints at exciting Newcastle summer vision but he's already found a 'new signing'
Howe will certainly have taken note of Leeds United and Leicester City joining Southampton in going down on the final day and James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are just two players liked by the Magpies, who look destined to leave the Foxes. In his final press conference before the window opens, Howe was asked if Newcastle would have to be reactive this summer just as they were when the Magpies pounced for Nick Pope after Burnley were relegated last season. The Newcastle boss nodded before briefly expanding.
"We will have our eyes and ears, hopefully, all over everything," he told reporters. "Whether that's teams getting promoted, relegated, all over the world, because the market is going to be difficult."
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