Eddie Howe and Newcastle United chiefs hold transfer summit in Riyadh

Club likely to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window. (AFP/FILE)
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  • Club likely to strengthen the squad in the January window
  • The Magpies are in the Saudi capital for a training camp that includes a friendly against Al-Hilal

RIYADH: Towering palms, the tinkling of ivories, clinking of coffee cups and a warm winter sun hue about the Saudi skies, is not your usual location for a Newcastle United transfer summit.

It鈥檚 a far cry from the inner bowels of St James鈥� Park, where head coach Eddie Howe, along with the club鈥檚 minority owners, thrashed out a summer raid for one of the hottest prospects in the game, Sweden international Alexander Isak. Not since the Vikings have the European elites been so unsettled by a force from the north.

But Howe, meeting with club chiefs and the money men at the Public Investment Fund, spent his Tuesday evening in the Kingdom talking transfers with Al-Olaya the backdrop, the Four Seasons an opulent frame.

Beyond the ostentatious surrounds lies a steely determination, one funded in the Gulf, but driven with North East grit. A goal not publicly admitted, but privately discussed. A want to take Newcastle United into the promised land, the UEFA Champions League, a feat the club has not achieved on Tyneside in two decades.

Lying third in the Premier League, which is beyond even the wildest of Newcastle fans鈥� expectations, the prospect is not out of the realms of possibility.

But will that be boosted by another Magpies鈥� January transfer window raiding party? Howe says talks have started.

鈥淚 have had half an eye on January and the squad and how it looks,鈥� he said, confirming the transfer talks with Newcastle chiefs.

鈥淲e need to be adaptable and prepared for what is always a difficult window. But if there is something we can do to improve the team, I, naturally as the manager, would like to look at that.鈥�

Expectation may be that Newcastle will be bold in their moves with the likes of England international James Maddison, however such a switch has been played down by those in the know.

More likely is movements for players more in the Isak or Sven Botman mold, ready to attack the Premier League, but not at an English topflight premium. And key to this January regeneration will be the right players, at the right price and for the right reasons, if at all.

鈥淢e, sitting here now, I am not expecting too much business, whether incoming or outgoing, but it is football and it is January so it鈥檚 unpredictable,鈥� Howe told Arab News.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 predict what is going to happen with our own squad at times, in terms of fitness and availability, so we do need to be ready to act if we need to. The need for that will be minimized by keeping a fit and healthy squad of players.

鈥淲e 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.

鈥淧robably the squad, in my eyes, looks different to what it did in the summer because of how well players have done 鈥� and from my perspective, I can鈥檛 ignore that.鈥�

On the level of those who may arrive, Botman and Isak have set the blueprint but financial fair play rules, until United鈥檚 commercial revenues are boosted significantly, will always be the elephant in the ever-expanding room.

Howe continued: 鈥淚n my position you are keen to sign the best players you can 鈥� but those players come at a premium, as you know. Botman wasn鈥檛 cheap, Alex wasn鈥檛 cheap. Those are players who can influence the starting 11. Do we have the finances for that? I do not know. That might impact our options on that one.

鈥淎s a manager I am always looking to improve the team. I will never sit here and be content 鈥� I don鈥檛 think that is the right way to manage. My way to take the team to new heights is to improve through the training of the players we have. If we can鈥檛 get to a certain level then we need to find that in the transfer market. And, of course, you have to work within the guidelines of the club.鈥�

Meanwhile, United鈥檚 trip, which started on Sunday and ends on Saturday, is being officially supported by, it鈥檚 been announced, Saudi telecommunications giant stc.

In a further boost to club revenues, stc have been named as the official digital partner of the tour and the news follows hot on the heels of Saudi Airlines鈥� sponsorship of the tour to the Middle East.

A club statement confirmed: 鈥淭he partnership will provide stc with a digital presence at the Al-Hilal versus Newcastle United fixture, as well as an ongoing presence at St. James鈥� Park throughout the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, and supporters will have exclusive opportunities to win memorabilia and tickets.鈥�

The NUFC鈥檚 chief commercial officer, Peter Silverstone, said: 鈥淥ur ambition is to grow our supporter base in 萝莉视频, a country whose young population includes a large, passionate and highly engaged football community.

鈥淲e are delighted to welcome stc to our growing family of partners and have them on board as our second strategic partner for the club鈥檚 visit to 萝莉视频 this December.

鈥渟tc digitally connects millions of individuals and businesses throughout the Middle East and their market knowledge, expertise and experience in sport partnerships will complement our drive to reach and engage with more people across one of our key markets. We look forward to working closely with stc.鈥�