Eddie Howe opened up transfer discussions ahead of the January window last night in Riyadh.
With sporting director Dan Ashworth also on the trip, Howe will start to make decisions on recruitment in the next month or so in order to be ready for business when the window swings open on January 1. Unlike last January though there is less urgency on incoming transfers.
Indeed, 12 months ago Howe's team were staring relegation in the face and critical action was required at the club sparking a drive to sign Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn. But this time around Newcastle are sitting in third spot in the table ahead of the resumption of play in the Premier League.
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When asked yesterday, Howe, speaking at the team HQ in Saudi Arabia, said: "Genuinely, they haven’t happened yet. I was hoping to have one tonight, while here.
"That’s where that is. I have had half an eye on January and the squad and how it looks. We need to be adaptable and prepared for what is always a difficult window.
"But if there is something we can do to improve the team, I, naturally as the manager, would like to look at that. But until I have those conversations with the club it is impossible to give you answers on that."
Howe, understandably, played down any expectations of another five-man haul like last winter. But he did say: "Me, sitting here now, I am not expecting too much business, whether incoming or outgoing, but it is football and it is January so it’s unpredictable.
"We can’t predict what is going to happen with our own squad at times, in terms of fitness and availability, so we do need to be ready to act if we need to. The need for that will be minimised by keeping a fit and healthy squad of players."
When asked if anything had changed in terms of transfers because of Newcastle's lofty position, Howe indicated that he felt there was a major improvement in the camp.
Howe said: "Probably, yes I would say. You are always making new impressions and opinions on players because of what you are seeing in matches and training.
"Probably the squad, in my eyes, looks different to what it did in the summer because of how well players have done - and from my perspective, I can’t ignore that.
"We look like, on paper, we have a very strong squad when everyone is fit. Everyone is not fit currently, and that has a bearing on what you look to do in January."
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