00:00Eddie Howe spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Fulham.
00:07And of course, the main talking point was Miguel Almiron's departure and what that means for Newcastle United's transfer plans.
00:15In the next few days of this January, transfer window closes on Monday, February the 3rd, so a bit of an extended winter window this year.
00:26But in terms of Newcastle United's transfer business, it doesn't sound like they're going to be bringing anybody through the door to replace Miguel Almiron,
00:35but we'll come on to that more in a little while.
00:38But just to talk about what Eddie Howe said about Miguel Almiron, Wack's lyricals about Miguel Almiron called him a special player, a special person.
00:46He praised his character the way he is behind the scenes, so bubbly, smiley, just how big of a miss he'll be in terms of that sort of camaraderie behind the scenes.
00:56But he openly admitted it was a deal that Newcastle needed to do because of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules, I think.
01:05In terms of football logic, you wouldn't want to lose Miguel Almiron this month because Newcastle are light on bodies on that right hand side and the attack as a whole.
01:16But from a business point of view, to recoup around £10 million for Almiron at his age, he's 30 now, it made sense.
01:25Obviously a player that's fallen down, the pecking order Jacob Murphy has surpassed Miguel Almiron in the last 12 months.
01:32He was a player that made two Premier League starts since March it was, so it made sense to go from a financial point of view.
01:40But it leaves Newcastle light of attacking bodies and I think that's the main concern, and that's what the main concern will be for Eddie Howard.
01:48If they are to lose Jacob Murphy through an injury or Jacob Murphy loses form, there isn't that right side option.
01:55Eddie Howard was asked about potential options on that right hand side and he admitted that there wasn't a natural replacement as such for Jacob Murphy,
02:04like Miguel Almiron was in terms of being a right forward.
02:09But yeah, he name dropped Willa Sula as someone who could potentially play on the right hand side.
02:16Joe Linton too, I think we've seen a bit of Joe Linton on the right hand side against Nottingham Forest.
02:23Of course he scored but the game after that, I believe it was West Ham United at home, Joe Linton played on the right hand side that day and it didn't quite work.
02:32So look, it's a roll of the dice if you like for Newcastle not to strengthen and rely upon Jacob Murphy staying fit, but it's one that had to do.
02:42Eddie Howard didn't admit it today, didn't go there, but from the way we understand it is by Newcastle not spending money this month,
02:52they'll be better off in a better financial position in the summer to really bolster the squad again.
02:58Because three transfer windows now where Newcastle haven't made a major signing, it's frustrating.
03:04But the sort of fear and the effects for going too big too soon, if you like, with obviously £63 million Alexander Isak,
03:12£55 million on Sandro Tenali, £30 million on Harvey Barnes.
03:16There's a lot of big spending in the first couple of years under the new Saudi ownership, but that's slowed.
03:22Newcastle have had to play catch up, they've had to suffer the pain of not being able to strengthen the squad
03:27for free straight transfer windows, but hopefully this is the last one where Newcastle just simply have to get by for the next six months
03:34and end the summer. Hopefully they've got European qualification to then attract players and they've got the money as well to go and do it.
03:40So it's very much short-term pain, long-term gain is hopefully the way of looking at it.
03:46But look, there's no denying that it leaves Newcastle light in the remaining part of the season.
03:55European football is the aim again and I suspect they'll probably have to go and do that to at least keep the likes of Isaks and Brunos and Anthony Gordons happy.
04:05So losing players from the squad, or certainly weakening the squad isn't ideal, but it's something they'll have to do.
04:13They had to do it. Miguel Holman had to go and yeah, that's what's happened.
04:19I think in terms of departures, he'll be the only one in the next few days.
04:25Eddie Howe was asked if anyone else would go. Of course, there's been rumours around Matt Target and Leeds.
04:31That was rubbished by a source at Leeds, so Matt Target by the township is staying put.
04:36There was of course Odysseys Vlachademos as well, who attracted interest from Al-Shabaab like Martin Dabravka did.
04:44Martin Dabravka is definitely staying, that was confirmed this morning by Eddie Howe.
04:47And obviously Vlachademos probably will be staying, but if there's an offer there, Vlachademos wants to accept them.
04:55The finance are right for Newcastle, because of course with loan deals etc, that's including wages and you've got to pay wages etc.
05:01Newcastle have been burned by that in the past in terms of sending players out on loan and having to pay the majority of the wages.
05:07If there's an offer on the table, that suits Vlachademos and Newcastle before the deadline.
05:12I'm sure that'll be one that could happen, but in terms of other outgoings, I think that's it.
05:17I think overall Newcastle are closed for business and it's not great for us reporters having to deal with that.
05:25There's a couple of days of the transfer window left, you want to be busy, you want to be reporting transfer news.
05:31But it's going to be a real quiet end by the sounds of it, unless something drastic changes.
05:36I would like this video to do it really badly and I would love to see Newcastle active on the final day of the transfer window and bolstering the squad, the start 11.
05:46But the word we're getting back isn't that.
05:50So prepare to be quiet, that's what we're going to do and that's what you guys should do as well.
05:57It is what it is. Short term pain, long term gain. I think that's the best way to go about it.
06:04A few talking points from the press conference.
06:08Callum Wilson won't be involved against Fulham, but could be involved against Arsenal on Wednesday at the Carabao Cup.
06:15Semi-final, second leg, Newcastle 90 minutes away from Wembley.
06:20They could have Callum Wilson back in the squad for that.
06:23And of course they've got, who have they got next week?
06:28Birmingham in the FA Cup, sorry.
06:30So that's two games we could see Callum Wilson back for.
06:34Harvey Barnes won't return for those games, he's still two or three weeks away.
06:39So yeah, middle of February for Harvey Barnes, but it's in those wide areas where Newcastle are lacking options really.
06:47So getting Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson back will bolster those attacking options and will give Eddie Howe a few more attacking options.
06:54Albeit they don't have an out-and-out right forward asides from Jake McMurphy.
07:00So I think that's it from Eddie Howe's press conference.
07:03Quiet into the January transfer window and what has been a quiet transfer window across the board.
07:10Apart from, if you're a Manchester City fan, obviously they've spent the cash, but their Premier League has been quiet, unfortunately.
07:18But that is the implications of PSR.
07:21I think, you know, we could go on and rant all day about PSR.
07:24It's clearly a financial model that needs changed.
07:29Otherwise, this will keep on happening and clubs will not spend money.
07:34And that's not good for the product of the Premier League, but that's a conversation for a different day.
07:40So, Fulham next up.
07:42Hopefully Newcastle can get a really positive result back to winning ways at St James' Park.
07:47They managed to bounce back from that boredom out of Peat by beating Southampton away last week.
07:52But then, you know, to do it in front of your home fans where they watched the 4-1 loss last time out.
07:58I think it's important Newcastle react to that as well and build some momentum heading into that massive Arsenal tie on Wednesday.
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