Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has, on Friday, provided his response to the club’s surprise transfer links with both Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For those who may have missed it, Newcastle have taken their place front and centre in the headlines across Europe over the week to date.
This comes amid mounting speculation that the Magpies are primed to make a major splash in the transfer market this summer.
Looking a lock to book their spot in the group stages of next season’s Champions League, the club’s mega-rich owners are unsurprisingly keen to kick on, by way of adding further established quality to Eddie Howe’s squad.
Links with two of world football’s biggest names – the aforementioned Neymar and Ronaldo – in turn, have begun to spread.
Paris Saint-Germain wide-man Neymar is widely expected to be on the move this summer, with some outlets having gone as far as to suggest that the Brazilian could be available on loan, whilst Ronaldo’s somewhat underwhelming stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr has given rise to suggestions that he too is eyeing a new challenge.
Neymar Jr. celebrates during the French championship Ligue 1 football match between LOSC Lille and Paris Saint-Germain on August 21, 2022 at Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq near Lille, France (Alamy Stock Photo)
The Englishman, however, was understandably keen to play the subject down.
Revealing that his vision for the future at St. James’ Park centers on securing and developing young talent, Howe explained:
“A lot of the names aren’t accurate. We need to recruit wisely. We want to discover them before they explode onto the world stage. We need to go underneath, find them young and develop them. I know the direction”.
Eddie Howe on Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar links: “A lot of the names aren’t accurate. We need to recruit wisely”. 🚨⚪️⚫️ #NUFC
“We want to discover them before they explode onto the world stage. We need to go underneath, find them young and develop them. I know the direction”. pic.twitter.com/gH0JmP0ui0
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 5, 2023