Magpies Boss Considers Saudi Solution for Injury Crisis

Eddie Howe, the Newcastle boss, has revealed that the club may turn to Saudi Arabia for transfers in January to address their injury crisis. This comes after Premier League clubs voted against a ban on related-party loans, shining a spotlight on Newcastle. However, Howe believes it is strange that the focus is solely on his team, as many Premier League clubs own clubs around the world. Newcastle will now have the opportunity to sign players from Saudi clubs owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

No Advantage Over Rivals

Despite the new opportunity, Howe insists that Newcastle does not have an advantage over their Premier League rivals. He points out that every Premier League club has the right to recruit from other leagues, just like Newcastle. Howe finds it strange that the attention is only on his team and believes that the focus should be on all clubs that have the same opportunity to vote on related-party loans.

Potential January Transfers

Due to the number of injured players, Howe admitted that he may be forced to enter the January transfer market. Alongside Sandro Tonali's 10-month betting ban, Newcastle is without several key players, including Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Matt Targett, and Elliot Anderson. Although some players, such as Fabian Schar, Miguel Almiron, and Alexander Isak, are expected to return soon, Howe acknowledges that the squad may still need reinforcements in January.

Reactive Approach

Howe stated that January was not a window they had planned to invest in, but the team may need to be reactive due to the injuries in different areas of the squad. The decision to recruit new players will depend on the extent of the injuries and whether they require additional reinforcements. Howe emphasizes that the majority of their players should be back in January, but the situation is still uncertain.