EDDIE Howe has admitted Newcastle United are unlikely to be able to sign more than one outfield player in the final week of the summer transfer window.
United and Crystal Palace are in advanced talks over Marc Guehi, with the Magpies as close as they've even been to a breakthrough in their pursuit of their leading centre-half target.
Strengthening at centre-half has been Newcastle's priority this summer but Howe also wanted to sign a right-winger.
However, the head coach admitted on Tuesday morning that the Magpies are likely to have to settle for one or the other this week.
Asked whether it's possible for Newcastle to sign both a centre-half and a right winger, Howe said: "Probably not, no."
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Further pressed on whether he'd prefer to sign a centre-half or right sided attacker, Howe said: "I can understand the question, but there is always a level of respect that needs to be shown to your existing members in your squad. I respect every player we have in every position. That is not for me to answer. We are trying to strengthen the group and make the right decisions and bring the right players in."
Howe last week described this transfer window as the most challenging he's ever experienced but insists this can still be a successful summer on Tyneside.
"It can, of course," he said.
"It only takes one player to make the window a success or failure however people view it.
"We hope certainly with a few days to go, as I said, we can do something. And if we can, then, I always think these things need time.
"I've seen so many times people go, we've had the best window ever, and then a year later the team hasn't been successful. So, time is always the best judgement of that. And sometimes not signing a player, or the wrong player, is just as successful. So, hopefully that makes sense. Let's see what happens."
Howe wouldn't comment specifically on Guehi, amid national newspaper reports that an agreement between Newcastle and Palace is now "close".
The head coach did, however, once again reiterate his desire to keep Kieran Trippier at St James' Park this week.
And he admitted a goalkeeper exit is "possible" amid uncertainty over the future of Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos, though insisted "nothing was decided".
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