Yahoo News Newcastle United's exciting plan to bring in four players unharmed despite 'toxic' Dan Ashworth affair
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will get the chance to find the missing pieces of his Toon jigsaw this summer regardless of the club's gradual progress of bringing in a sporting director.
The club cast the net wide to hire a transfer guru and used executive search specialists Odgers Berndtson earlier this year. But those on the shortlists such as Dougie Freedman and Tiago Pinto have opted for other options. The Scot has stayed at Crystal Palace and signed a new deal and Pinto is now in the top job at AFC Bournemouth.
Nevertheless, Newcastle's temporary transfer team of Howe, Andy Howe and head of recruitment Steve Nickson, with support from CEO Darren Eales and co-owner Amanda Staveley, are dealing with boardroom business on new signings and outgoing business for now.
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In short it means that nothing has held up or will harm Newcastle's chances of bringing in new players as the club make up their mind in terms of a sporting director.
Nickson is already qualified as a sporting director and more than capable of doing the job and Newcastle have not panicked with as Dan Ashworth's role was left unfilled. Without Ashworth - who is in total limbo due to the failure between the Magpies and Man United to agree compensation - Newcastle moved swiftly to secure the services of Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer after he left the Cherries.
The Magpies' intense battle with Man United for compensation has reached toxic levels after it was reported last week that Ashworth visited Wolves during gardening leave to further complicate matters. Newcastle continue to hold out for top dollar for his services despite being lowballed with a paltry £3m package last week.
But life simply goes on at St James' Park and the Ashworth affair has not stopped Newcastle from making some progress on recruitment.
Howe and Nickson helped lead the way on Kelly's move to the North-East and that has been the case during talks for Burnley stopper James Trafford with Eales also chiming in. If Newcastle can secure Trafford to go with Kelly before pre-season training gets under way they will have made a significant step or two in the right direction.
But Howe wants at least four new faces by the time the Premier League season gets under way on August 17. Newcastle will find out just how tough a start they will get in the top-flight later this morning when the Premier League fixtures are released.
United are not only looking for a keeper they also want a winger plus a new striker while there are also a couple of gaping holes in the squad in terms of back-up men. The likes of Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie and Loris Karius have gone after failing to get contract offers meaning Howe's squad are lacking numbers in reserve.
Howe said earlier in the summer: "Any player that we lose from our squad, we have to replace. So that costs a lot of money to find elite Premier League players. In terms of trading, of course, I’m sure there will be trading, but I’m not sure how much."
Despite uncertainty in the boardroom caused by the lack of a transfer guru, the backroom team are calm and composed as the transfer trading period begins to heat up a little. And given the challenge ahead of next season, with the likes of Chelsea, Man United and Brighton eager to rejoin the top four race and others hungry for success, staying cool in this trading period is going to be vital for Howe and co.
