Eddie Howe has admitted that Newcastle United had to back out of the race to sign Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips before the England international joined Premier League rivals West Ham on Friday.
What good are those Saudi millions if you can’t even part with a £6 million loan fee?
That is the question on the lips of frustrated Newcastle United supporters, a club with supposedly the most deep-pocketed backers in world football unable to compete with West Ham even for a short-term acquisition, their wallet clamped shut by the vice-like grip of those Financial Fair Play concerns.
Kalvin Phillips, 18 months after joining Manchester City from Leeds for nearly £50 million, completed his move to the London Stadium today.
And Howe has now confirmed that Phillips was on Newcastle’s radar too, earlier in the window.
West Ham beat Newcastle to Kalvin Phillips deal
“We had to step away from that one,” Howe tells Sky Sports. “Due to financial reasons.”
Howe’s focus, meanwhile, appears to be on keeping his Newcastle squad together. HITC Football understands that Callum Wilson is one of those who could be sacrificed at the altar of FFP.
Wilson may be available for around £18 million. It is understood that he too has admirers at West Ham. Newcastle are also open to letting Miguel Almiron join Allan Saint-Maximin in Saudi Arabia. There are doubts swirling about the futures of Kieran Trippier and Joelinton too.
“We have a little bit of time to go,” the former Bournemouth boss adds. “But it is my aim to leave the window with the strongest squad possible. And that won’t change.”
Phillips could fill a place vacated by his England team-mate Declan Rice in David Moyes’ West Ham midfield, though it remains to be seen how his arrival affects the presence of Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.
Moyes delighted to land Man City loanee
“We are really pleased to bring a player of Kalvin’s quality to West Ham United,” Moyes says.
“We’ve been big admirers of him for a long time. We believe that he will add strength and competition to our squad.
“Kalvin is an England international midfielder. (He has) proven Premier League experience. We’re excited to welcome him into the group and look forward to working with him.”
Interestingly, this is not the first time Newcastle have missed out on a January target to a Premier League rival. The agent of Radu Dragusin confirmed that he held talks with The Magpies before Tottenham Hotspur sealed a £26 million deal for the Romanian centre-half.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
