Newcastle United could pivot to signing “project players” in the January transfer window if they aren’t able to fund signings through sales.
The club are locked in the frustrating position of having limited headroom within the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to add to their squad unless they are able to broker sales in the upcoming window.
Sources admit the transfer market might be a “challenge” but there is a desire to support Eddie Howe if they can.
Running in parallel with efforts to improve the starting XI, Newcastle want to “turbocharge” efforts to find the next Yankuba Minteh and have had scouting “boots on the ground” in France, Belgium and Germany in recent weeks.
Jack Ross’s promotion to a new role as head of strategic technical partnerships was the first building block for that policy, with the former Sunderland manager given responsibility for building a new network of partner clubs that Newcastle can loan young players to.
The i Paper understands that a budget has been assigned for bringing in “project players” to follow Georgian winger Vakhtang Salia, who signed in October amid fierce competition.
It is understood director of football Paul Mitchell personally fast-tracked the deal for Salia in a sign of the club’s shifting priorities.
There is hope, too, that Newcastle can secure a right winger, while they are also looking for a goalkeeper and striker, but PSR is enough of an issue to make sales necessary.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab are interested in a cut-price deal for Martin Dubravka and Miguel Almiron has admirers in the Premier League, Saudi Arabia and South America.
Leicester City are one of those credited with an interest in the Paraguay international – but Newcastle’s asking price might be a problem.
While Howe is reluctant to sanction exits of first-team players, Newcastle would contemplate offers for Sean Longstaff or even Harvey Barnes if it created much-needed room to refresh a squad that the Magpies boss admitted was in danger of going stale earlier this month.
Some of those concerns have been allayed by a pair of fine wins that have helped generate momentum at St James’ Park.
After a 4-0 win over Leicester last weekend, Newcastle progressed to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup by beating Brentford 3-1 on Wednesday with key men like Sandro Tonali starting to hit form.
If this season has been anything, though, it has been inconsistent and they need to sustain that improvement at Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Dan Burn feels “perspective”, and a step back to view the bigger picture, is required.
“We need perspective this season,” he said.
“We have not performed consistently, which is frustrating, but a few wins and you fly back up the league and it is like we are going to win the league again.
“We are concentrating on performances, which are going in the right direction.
“If there is any noise coming, we know from an inside point of view what we have to do to make things right.
“Everyone is 100 per cent behind the gaffer and we know how well he has done for us since he has been here.”
