Newcastle United have begun another Premier League campaign under Eddie Howe without any form of Europe.
The last time the Magpies were in this situation, they secured Champions League football and the club dreams of that again.
Andros Townsend doesn’t think Newcastle have question marks over their head amid a mixed start to the new season and an uninspiring summer transfer window so far.
Newcastle were told that they were ‘lucky’ to draw at Bournemouth on Sunday after narrowly beating newly-promoted Southampton with ten men on the opening day of the new season.
Townsend doesn’t see any issues for the club and he feels ‘they are going to be going for Europe, for sure’, regardless of the doubts.
But a lot of it could depend on what the club do from now until the summer transfer window slams shut on Friday.
The biggest area of concern for Howe and Newcastle right now is the centre-back department, with Sven Botman out for the long term and Fabian Schar getting sent off against Southampton.
Dan Burn and Emil Krafth were the ones to start at the heart of the defence at Bournemouth on Sunday, which is a clear sign that investment is needed.
Townsend was adamant that if Newcastle secure Marc Guehi’s transfer, then it would be a ‘statement’ deal for the club, as he told The Monday Night Club.
The former Premier League winger touched upon how Guehi is Crystal Palace’s ‘talisman’ and Newcastle nicking a player from their rivals would be something.
Marc Guehi transfer to Newcastle United
“Probably not,” responded Townsend on question marks over Newcastle. “We saw the last time they weren’t in Europe and with the Saturday games, you saw what they could produce on a week-to-week basis.
“Last season was a messy season because they had Champions League football for the first half. I think Newcastle will be alright and go for Europe. For this season, with the fans behind them, with the players they have actually got in the dressing room. They are going to be going for Europe, for sure.
“The PSR is just hamstrung a lot of football clubs. That really is a statement signing to sign a player of Marc Guehi’s calibre. Great Euros. Great last season for Crystal Palace. He is their real talisman, so to nick a player from one of your rivals is a big statement signing if they can get it over the line.”
Eddie Howe’s future
England could come knocking for Howe, so it’s paramount that he likes where Newcastle are heading amid their recent changes to the boardroom.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have left Newcastle and their loss will be felt even more if there isn’t enough movement in the summer transfer market.
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Only a few days remain before the window slams shut and the goings-on at St James’ Park – or the lack of it – could be defining in how their season pans out.
Newcastle have embarrassed Tottenham on home soil in recent seasons and the London club pay another visit this weekend.
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