EDDIE HOWE has admitted there could be departures from Newcastle United despite the closure of the domestic transfer window – but has reiterated his desire to keep Kieran Trippier on Tyneside.

While the English transfer window closed on Friday night, clubs in a number of other countries are still able to buy and sell players.

The Turkish transfer window does not close for another fortnight, and reports in Turkey have suggested that Super Lig side Eyupspor have agreed the terms of a possible deal with Trippier and his representatives.

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The recently-retired England international was an unused substitute as Newcastle beat Tottenham at St James’ Park this afternoon, but Howe remains adamant he does not want to lose the 33-year-old.

“Absolutely, I want Kieran here,” said the Magpies boss. “That hasn’t changed, and that won’t change. I woke up to the stories via a few messages, as you do, but that was the first I’d heard of it.”

Howe does, however, concede that fringe players could depart despite having been unable to secure a domestic move last week.

Jamal Lewis does not have a future on Tyneside, while Newcastle are also hoping to move on Isaac Hayden, who is currently training with the Under-21s.

“Maybe the players who have been linked with a move, like Jamal Lewis, could possibly leave,” said Howe. “But we certainly hope that no one else does.”

With Newcastle having been unable to complete a signing in the final few weeks of the window, despite a much-publicised pursuit of Marc Guehi, Howe admits the summer has been a “challenging” period.

However, with the Magpies having been willing to commit £70m to the potential signing of Guehi, the Newcastle boss is hoping the lack of spending this summer will strengthen the club’s hands in the next couple of windows.

“It (the summer window) was challenging,” said Howe. “We knew going into the window it was going to be challenging, and it proved to be the case.

“My feeling is that that will be the same for everyone connected to the club – there’s no one in a different position. Within the club, we’re all wanting to do everything we can to try to improve the club.

“It was challenging, but by not spending any money, or at least not spending the sums that were maybe expected, hopefully that will help us in future windows. I don’t know as I sit here whether that will be the case, but hopefully that will give us a bit more freedom in the future to be a bit more proactive.”