EDDIE Howe admits Newcastle United are being quoted inflated prices in this month’s transfer window, but insists he has alternative options if moves for his preferred targets continue to stall.

Howe had hoped to have new additions on board ahead of this afternoon’s crucial relegation clash with Leeds United, but accepts the last seven days have involved a “fruitless search” for recruits.

A series of talks with Sevilla have failed to result in a deal for Diego Carlos, even though Newcastle have tabled a £30m offer and the Brazilian centre-half has expressed a desire to move to Tyneside this month.

Similarly, discussions with Manchester United over Jesse Lingard have hit an impasse, with the Old Trafford club wanting to sell the England international, who has entered the final six months of his current deal, but the player insisting he is only willing to consider a loan move in order to keep his long-term options open.

Earlier in the window, Newcastle’s recruitment team were unable to broker a deal for Lille’s Sven Botman, and a clearly frustrated Howe admits the club’s new-found Saudi Arabian wealth is making it difficult to sign off deals.

“Are we facing inflated prices? I think we’re facing inflated prices because it’s January, but also possibly because of our name,” said the Newcastle boss. “But that’s something we have to deal with.

“It’s a very difficult combination of things this January. When you add Covid to the mix, clubs are reluctant to lose players just in case there’s an outbreak at their club. January is already notoriously very difficult to bring in the right players, but when you add that in (it becomes even harder).

“Then I’m sure the takeover has elevated people’s expectations of what Newcastle can pay other clubs. Add that all together, and it’s been a very difficult window so far for everybody, but more so when you’re in our position and very keen to add to the group and try to change the dynamics of certain situations within the squad.”

With director Amanda Staveley leading negotiations, Newcastle have spent most of this week trying unsuccessfully to tie up a deal for Carlos.

The club’s reluctance to look elsewhere means Howe will head to Elland Road this afternoon with the same defensive options that have seen his side concede 43 goals in their 20 league games this season, but the Magpies head coach insists he is willing to be flexible if the situation demands it.

“We’re looking at all alternative targets,” he said. “Please don’t think we’re sat there with a list of one target, and that’s the only player that we would go for. We’re looking at a huge list of names, but even when the list is big, it still doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to get one of those players over the line.

“In my opinion, this is the best league in the world and the number of players that can come in and make your team better means it’s actually a very small pond that we’re fishing in because of the availability issues that we’ll have in this window compared to the summer. I think that’s what people have to understand.”

After lining up against Leeds this afternoon, Howe will use the forthcoming winter break to take his squad to a training camp in Saudi Arabia. However, he opted not to comment on whether he will meet Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of the trip.

Newcastle’s failure to progress to the FA Cup fourth round means they are not due to return to action until they host Everton on February 8 once they have played today’s game at Elland Road.

Howe is keen to take his players away on a training break, and the club’s new Saudi Arabian owners are understood to have pushed for a visit to their country.

The trip will be hugely controversial, with questions bound to be asked about the Saudi Arabian regime’s human rights record and the ruling elite’s alleged involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but Howe insists he is taking his players to the Middle East for ‘footballing reasons’.

“It’s a football decision,” he said. “We’re doing it for the benefit of the players and the group in our fight to stay in the division, and that’s 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.”