Eddie Howe has quipped even he has an ego as the Newcastle United boss discussed the 'challenge' of bringing in quality signings who will buy into the team-first mentality at the club.
Although Howe's focus is solely on Sunday's visit of Arsenal, as Newcastle bid to take another step towards qualifying for the Champions League, the Magpies boss acknowledged that he already knows 'what direction I want to take the team in and what we can and can’t do in the transfer market'. Howe, himself, has researched targets and the club's recruitment team have been planning for the window for several months now. In fact, as far back as January, sporting director Dan Ashworth said 'we're clear with what we want to do in the summer'.
Newcastle look set to be in the market for a holding midfielder, wide forward, left-back and centre-back and the emphasis will be on evolution rather than revolution once more. As ever, the club will leave no stone unturned with their character checks to try and ensure that new additions won't disrupt the dressing room. However, given how elite players are typically even more sure of their own abilities, does that task get harder the higher up the table Newcastle go?
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"That's a challenge all the time," the Newcastle head coach told reporters. "All of the players in our squad currently will have egos. I have an ego. Lee [the head of media] sat next to me has got an ego. It's how that ego manifests itself. It's how it presents itself.
"Part of my job is to manage people, characters, and to try and get them to think with the team understanding while also recognising what the player needs and wants. I don't think that challenge is any different. It already exists."
Although qualifying for the Champions League would be a game-changer - on and off the field - Newcastle look set to stick with the model that has served them well under Howe and the new owners. This has involved targeting a blend of Premier League experience and players aged 25 and under on the continent like Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak before they truly explode in value.
In a week where Newcastle have been spuriously linked with Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi, Howe reiterated Newcastle are 'never going to be in a position currently to afford those transfer fees and wages'. Instead, Newcastle will be looking 'underneath' to 'find them young and develop them into the players they can be'.
One such player already at the club is Anthony Gordon, who joined Newcastle from Everton back in January. Although Gordon has only made three starts to date, Howe has no doubt that the 22-year-old will be a 'top' player for the club.
Gordon has certainly bought into the Howe's non-negotiables of late. Having reacted angrily to being replaced at Brentford last month, Gordon did not let his disappointment show in the dressing room after coming off at half-time against Southampton last time out. Howe is desperate to maintain that spirit this summer.
"In all successful teams, it's there," he added. "To be successful long-term, you can't have players thinking of themselves ahead of the team.
"The team has to take priority, the club has to take priority, but I always want the individuals within the team to succeed and do well and fulfil their dreams. At the moment, if the team does do well, a lot of players will get to that point.
"When you see the other side of it and you see teams struggling in difficult moments, usually you do have that selfish element within there so it's about trying to continue on the path that we are on, where everyone is in the same direction fighting for the same cause."
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