Eddie Howe has defended Newcastle’s team trip to Saudi Arabia next week - and admitted it’s been a “fruitless search” for new players this week.
The Newcastle manager has agreed to take his squad to Riyadh after the Leeds game this weekend for bonding and training.
The club is 80pc owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, chaired by the national leader Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Howe says the decision to make the 12 hour flight to the Middle East in the final week of the transfer window was “a football decision.”
The trip is likely to be used by the Saudis to promote their training facilities, as they seek to wield influence in the world of football globally. It is unclear yet if the Newcastle players and staff will be asked to take part in other state promotional activities.
It will leave Howe in Saudi, while trying to help get transfers done in Europe.
And it will draw Newcastle into controversy and accusations of sportswashing if they undertake activities to put a positive spin on the Saudi regime who are accused of locking up dissidents, punishing gays, and who the CIA say murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Howe didn’t answer a question on whether he would be prepared to shake bin Salman’s hand on the trip.
Howe said: It is a football decision. We are doing it for the benefit of the players, the group, in our fight to stay in the division. That is my only thought.
“The facilities and everything around the trip are going to be first class. We will train and train hard in preparation for our next game. That is my only focus”
Asked about bin Salman and possible distraction, Howe said: “There will be no distraction from my side. It is about the training and making sure the players are focused on our next game. We are just doing it in a different environment to make sure the players are together.
“Here there are lots of COVID protocols that encourage isolation. It doesn’t help foster a togetherness to stay in the division.
“It is important to encourage that unity. It will be a work training camp, working and playing a game. We will be very active.
“It is manageable. The distances are not too far. I think we have to take everything into account. We have a big gap to our next game and we are comfortable. It is a worthwhile exercise. We will look after everyone and come back a more united squad.”
Howe concedes it has been a “slightly frustrating week” trying to sign defender Diego Carlos from Seville and Manchester United ’s Jesse Lingard.
Clubs are hiking prices and deals have been tough to finalise.
Howe said: “We are against a deadline and we are desperately trying to improve the squad. It has been a fruitless search this week.
“The takeover has elevated expectations on what Newcastle can pay other clubs. When you are in our position and keen to add to the dynamic, it has been very difficult.
“Late in the window you get a flurry of things going over the line. We will try to add to the squad until the last day.”
Asked how annoying it was to be three weeks into the transfer window having not signed a priority centre half, Howe added: “It is not as easy as people think. I understand your question. I get it.
The visuals of how we look, players desire to come, it looks better when you are not in the bottom three than when you are, when players are looking to come here. We will try to change that.
“I can assure you we are working tirelessly to sign players that we need.”
