Eddie Howe has stressed that Newcastle United must hold their nerve to sign the 'right' attacker this summer - whether that's permanently or on loan.
Howe's priority at the start of the window was to bring in more firepower after Callum Wilson finished up as the club's top scorer last season with just eight goals despite missing several months of the campaign through injury. Newcastle quickly attempted to resurrect a move for Stade de Reims striker Hugo Ekitike, who turned down the Magpies in January, but the youngster ultimately plumped for a switch to Paris Saint-Germain last month.
Although Newcastle have since managed to sign goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Sven Botman and Matt Targett, Howe has been 'frustrated' in his attempts to strengthen his side in the final third. Indeed, in the last week alone, Newcastle have had two big-money bids turned down for Leicester City attacking midfielder James Maddison.
READ MORE: Everything Eddie Howe said on transfers, Forest and injuries
It remains to be seen whether Newcastle will return with a third offer for Maddison, but the Magpies are not exactly looking at a huge list of names.
"There is a very small pool for us to recruit from," Howe told reporters. "Of that small pool of players, the details of the transfer have to fit both sides.
"That's not always been easy to align so it's about the right player - it's not about signing any player. It's very easy to sign this name, that name, but it's got to be the one that we think elevates our team the best.
"Whether that means holding our nerve or whatever expression you want to use, it's so important that we try and sign the right one and the best fit for Newcastle."
In an ideal world, Howe would have loved to have had that player through the door in time for Newcastle's opening game of the season against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. However, it is easy to forget that there are still over three-and-a-half weeks to go until the window shuts.
Business traditionally picks up as the window progresses and Newcastle made most of their signings in January in the final days of the month. Bruno Guimaraes joined the club on January 30 while Dan Burn arrived on deadline day itself - just as Targett did when he completed his initial loan move from Aston Villa.
Howe is certainly not adverse to signing players on a temporary basis again and the Newcastle boss predicted that the loan market will be 'more active' towards the end of the window as players 'see where they stand in their respective teams'.
"The structure of the transfer doesn’t necessarily matter to me," he said. "It’s about the individual.
"Matt Targett came in as a loan player but committed to everything and felt like a Newcastle player really from day one. Another individual’s character might be slightly different and you get the feeling they are just here for a set time and they will move on.
"I’d be reluctant to do those types of transfers so it’s all about the person and them committing to the club and to the team. It’s a feel you get from speaking to them and the agent.
"You’ll sense the commitment from the player very early. If you’re going to sign a player, they have to be committed to your club."
That commitment has not been in doubt with any of the seven senior signings Howe has made since taking charge last year, whether it is Kieran Trippier swapping life in the Champions League with Atletico Madrid for an immediate relegation battle or Sven Botman choosing to join Newcastle when he could have held out for AC Milan.
Newcastle's defence has certainly been bolstered following the arrival of Botman, Trippier et al but the Magpies have only managed to sign one attacker, Chris Wood, in 2022, which shows how difficult it is to add goals to the side. Howe, as a result, will start the season with the same pool of forwards that ended the previous campaign, minus Dwight Gayle, but the Newcastle boss is not necessarily worried just yet.
"It depends on the health of our squad to be honest," he added. "While we have a full complement of players - touch wood as we do now bar Jonjo [Shelvey] - our squad is strong.
"The injury situation will dictate a lot of that thought but, regardless, I would love to be active between now and when the window shuts that we could sign a player because I do think the squad will need a help during the season where games are going to be very intense and a long season.
"There's no guarantee with that but, in terms of panicking, we can't be in that position. We have to make the right decision for the club short-term and long-term and everything has to be strategically thought out."
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