Eddie Howe says Newcastle cannot afford to sign players in the two priority positions he had wanted this window, as he all but ruled out both a centre-back and right-winger arriving in the coming days.
The Magpies are closing in on a £70million deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, with Howe having told new sporting director Paul Mitchell that the England man is his No 1 choice this summer.
However, the head coach had also hoped for a new right-winger, an area in which he currently has Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy. Mail Sport reported last week that the club-record outlay on Guehi would leave no scope for a wideman, and Howe confirmed this on Tuesday.
When asked if the club could sign a centre-back and right-winger, he replied: ‘Probably not, no.’
The answer will frustrate supporters - and likely the manager - given the need for reinforcement in the position since the Saudi-led takeover nearly three years ago. Both Murphy and Almiron were signed under the Mike Ashley regime.
But PSR restrictions have limited the club’s spending this window and Howe has already admitted it has been the most difficult of his managerial career. He insists, though, there is no issue with support from above.
‘There's no problem with backing or support, there never has been,’ he said. ‘It's the rules we're trying to abide by and every decision we make has a consequence for the future, so we have got to make sure we are making wise decisions and not leaving ourselves in a vulnerable position again further down the line.
‘That's why these decisions are complex. It's not quite as simple as being backed. There's backing there. Everyone wants the same result at the football club, but it's making the best decisions for the long-term.’
Meanwhile, Howe says Sandro Tonali will feel a need to repay Newcastle when he returns from a 10-month gambling ban. The Italian will be part of the squad that travels to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, appearing for the first time since October.
Howe and the club have stood by Tonali - he appeared just 12 times following his £52million arrival from AC Milan - and the head coach said: ‘Sandro will naturally feel like he wants to repay everyone at Newcastle for the trust that we’ve shown in him when we signed him.
‘Whenever you go to a new club, there is always that want to show everyone your qualities and give to the team. I’m sure all of those things are there for him. We have just handled the situation as we think best and tried to support the human rather than looking at him as a footballer, first and foremost.
‘But he’s a very strong guy. He’s handled this situation so well. He’s shown real strength, dignity, integrity. He’s been really strong because he’s been isolated at times. It hasn’t always been easy for him. He’s had some low moments and some lonely moments.
‘I think we’ll get a different player back, a stronger player mentally, someone who will enjoy his football and probably appreciate every moment, because it has been taken away from him for a long period of time. I’ve seen enough of Sandro all these months to back his ability, I still love the player. I just hope he can come in, in a calm way, and add to the team in his way.’
