Thomaz Oseghale
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has acknowledged that he may not have the power to prevent striker Callum Wilson from leaving the club, with Arsenal and Chelsea expressing interest in the player.
Manchester United is also considering a bid for the England international, who has been made available for £18 million.
Following Newcastle’s recent takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the club has invested heavily in the transfer market, spending £400 million.
However, they now need to generate funds to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
During a press conference on Friday, Howe stated, “[Wilson] is 100 per cent committed to Newcastle. We want to keep him, but obviously, some things are out of my control.”
He acknowledged that the transfer window has been challenging, as it is the first time players leaving the club have been linked during his tenure.
Howe emphasized the importance of keeping the squad intact, but also recognized the impact of Financial Fair Play regulations on all clubs.
Wilson, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, could potentially be replaced by top scorer Alexander Isak as the lone striker in Howe’s preferred 4-3-3 system.
While transfer speculation has increased for several Newcastle players, it appears that Kieran Trippier and Miguel Almiron are likely to stay.
Almiron, in particular, is reluctant to move to Saudi Arabia despite interest from Al-Shabab, and Howe expressed his desire to retain the Paraguayan winger.
Additionally, Howe expressed confidence that Trippier would stay, following Bayern Munich’s rejected bid and their reported interest in Galatasaray defender Sacha Boey.
