Newcastle's reassuring 'never stop' transfer and loan…

Newcastle's reassuring 'never stop' transfer and loan summer plan in major move from Ashley era

Newcastle United will keep pushing until the window shuts if that is what it takes to sign the right player.

Newcastle completed three signings in the space of just three weeks earlier this summer to secure Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman, but the Magpies have been frustrated in their efforts to bring in an attacker. Adding more firepower to his side was always Eddie Howe's priority after Callum Wilson finished up as the club's top scorer with just eight goals last season, but finding a deal that suits all parties has not been easy.

Three boxes, essentially, have to be ticked: an acceptable financial package, both in terms of fee and salary, to ensure the club do not overpay while complying with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations; a player who will improve the squad; and a character who won't disrupt the dressing room.

Newcastle have looked at a very small pool of alternatives since a move for top target Hugo Ekitike fell through and the Magpies most recently made a bid for Watford forward Joao Pedro, who is, unsurprisingly, open to returning to the Premier League. However, an offer in the region of £20m was rejected and a senior Watford source told ChronicleLive that the Hornets have 'made our position very clear' in Pedro not being for sale.

Newcastle are weighing up whether to test that stance with an improved bid but, regardless, the black-and-whites look set to continue to be active in the final couple of weeks of the window. As Howe, himself, told Sky Sports earlier this month: "We will never stop until the window shuts to try and add to the group."

Newcastle used a similar approach in January and were still trying to sign targets until deadline day earlier this year. As well as completing deals for Matt Targett and Dan Burn, Newcastle made fresh attempts to bring in both Jesse Lingard and Ekitike right at the end of the window.

In contrast, in the final window of the Ashley era, Newcastle's business was effectively done after Joe Willock arrived on August 13 last year and former head coach Steve Bruce was unable to even sign any more players on loan last summer. However, Newcastle's new owners are open to signing players on a temporary basis this time around.

It will likely be closer to the end of the window when clubs such as Chelsea decide who they can let go as the Blues finalise their 25-man squad. Chelsea are keen to keep a certain level of depth now with an extra two substitutions at their disposal but Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja may struggle for game time depending on who Thomas Tuchel signs in the coming weeks.

Newcastle's reassuring 'never stop' transfer and loan summer plan in major move from Ashley era

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