Newcastle United given transfer timeframe as key dates set for Eddie Howe's summer squad changes

Newcastle United will have 11 weeks to build a squad which Eddie Howe hopes can take them back into the Champions League as the club prepares for a crucial summer of activity. The Premier League has today confirmed the dates for this summer and next winter's transfer windows, with Newcastle handed two and a half months to get the squad in order during what is expected to be one the most significant transfer windows since the Saudi-led takeover of the club.

Working to Financial Fair Play (or PSR) restrictions, Newcastle are braced to let a number of players leave this summer to help fund the necessary changes Howe wants to make to add further strength in depth to the squad while also strengthening his best XI. The likes of Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo are being targeted to add to a defence that was at times decimated by injuries this season, with Newcastle hoping to get those deals over the line soon.

The club will be allowed to complete their first deal in just under a month's time, after the Premier League today confirmed their timetable for the transfer window. The summer transfer window will open on Friday June 14 and will run throughout the summer and close on Friday August 30, with an 11pm deadline on that date for clubs to finalise their deals.

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The winter window opens on January 1 and next year will stay open a little longer than normal due to the timing of the weekend, with the window closing on Monday February 3, again with an 11pm finish. The Premier League have synchronised their dates in cooperation with leagues in Italy, Spain and German, who will also share the same transfer window timeframes, as has not always been the case in the past.

Newcastle will continue to make overtures to players and agents as the club look to line up a number of deals which they can get completed in the early stages of the window in mid-June, to allow Howe to have the bulk of his squad in place for the start of pre-season training at the beginning of July.