‘Yes’: Eddie Howe says he’s changed transfer plans at Newcastle United now

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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been asked if he has changed his transfer plans ahead of the January window.

As per the Daily Mail, Howe was not specifically asked about Miguel Almiron, but it would not be too much of a stretch to ascertain that the Paraguyan’s improved performances have altered where the former Bournemouth boss thinks he needs to improve his squad in the winter window.

The article suggests it could be a case of one in, one out for Newcastle next month, despite being in the top four with the potential to push to seal Champions League qualification.

Howe said he has a strong squad when everyone is fit and admitted he is mindful of altering the balance and chemistry of his group.

Howe asked if his transfer plans have changed

He replied: “Probably, yes, I would say. You are always making new impressions and opinions on players because of what you are seeing in matches and training. The squad, in my eyes, looks different to what it did in the summer because of how well players have done – and from my perspective, I can’t ignore that.

“We look like, on paper, we have a very strong squad when everyone is fit. Everyone is not fit currently, and that has a bearing on what you look to do in January. I am not expecting too much business, whether incoming or outgoing, but it is football and it is January, so it’s unpredictable.

“We can’t predict what is going to happen with our own squad, in terms of fitness and availability, so we do need to be ready to act if we need to. These are the difficult decisions when you are in my shoes that you have to make.

“You can sign a very good player, but the chemistry is not quite right and the team doesn’t do as well as maybe everybody would have predicted. You can fail to add new energy to the group and sometimes the group can look a bit flat because you haven’t added to the dynamics, and that can change (things).

“So my thought is always – every transfer window – try to improve the squad if we can, but I am aware the chemistry is brilliant within the group, and I don’t want to disturb that.”

It will be easy for people to say that Newcastle should go big again in January, getting two or three top players to try and cement their Champions League place.

But it is not that easy to get the right quality of player mid-season and also to integrate them so quickly that it is worth getting them in January and not waiting until the summer.

The likes of Almiron have responded so well to Howe’s coaching that the Englishman may feel he can get more from his resources on the training ground than in the transfer market, but time will tell.