Newcastle United are continuing to prioritise moves for Lille defender Sven Botman and Stade de Reims striker Hugo Ekitike but the Magpies have a huge list of alternatives in place if required.
Newcastle, of course, attempted to sign both Botman and Ekitike back in January but the deals broke down for different reasons. Botman was keen on joining in the mid-season window, but Lille did not want to sell the centre-back. Stade de Reims, in contrast, agreed to let Ekitike go but the striker did not feel ready to move to Newcastle at the time after the 19-year-old only made his first-team debut a few months previously.
Although Newcastle are in a better situation than they were in January, when the black-and-whites were fighting for their lives in the table, the summer window brings with it similar challenges despite there being more time to do deals. Newcastle have still been quoted inflated prices, as they were in the mid-season window, and have faced stiff competition for top targets like Botman and Ekitike from AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund respectively as talks continue.
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It is important to stress, of course, that the window has only been open a few days and, already, Newcastle have made a £15m signing in Matt Targett. Newcastle may have had the option to make that loan move permanent but it serves as a stark contrast to the situation a year ago.
Back then, Steve Bruce feared it might not even be possible to sign another loanee, Joe Willock, permanently because that would mean 'breaking all the rules' and paying the fee in instalments, which the previous regime loathed to do. Newcastle also had to wait on Willock to make a life-changing decision as the midfielder weighed up leaving home and his boyhood club, Arsenal, for good and the Londoner did not ultimately arrive until just a few days before the start of the new campaign.
Howe is eager to have as many quality additions in place for the start of pre-season on July 1, but the Newcastle head coach recognises that the Magpies are fishing in a small pond when it comes to bringing in players and characters who can actually improve the squad while also complying with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations moving forward. Howe is certainly more open to signing younger players from abroad, as they will not be parachuted into a relegation battle like in January, and the 44-year-old also has an eye on bringing in further Premier League experience depending on the particular position.
Just as Howe and his coaching staff will put names forward, the club's recruitment have previously compiled clips and data of targets for the Newcastle boss to sift through. It goes without saying, but Newcastle certainly do not just have one player in mind per position.
Indeed, Dan Burn was not a first-choice target at the start of January, as the Magpies made moves for Botman and Sevilla defender Diego Carlos, but the centre-back ended up proving an inspired alternative following his deadline day move from Brighton.
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