EDDIE HOWE says Newcastle United are fully aware of where they need to strengthen in the final three weeks of the transfer window, with today’s goalless draw against Brighton having exposed the lack of attacking options within the Magpies squad.

While Chris Wood came on for the final three minutes to replace Callum Wilson in the scorching heat at the Amex Stadium, Howe was unable to make any more attacking changes as his side tried to find a way through a well-drilled Brighton defence.

Newcastle have made unsuccessful attempts to sign a number of forwards this summer, most notably missing out on Hugo Ekitike when he joined Paris St Germain and Benjamin Sesko when the youngster agreed a deal with RB Leipzig.

The Magpies remain keen to sign Armando Broja on loan, although Chelsea are unlikely to allow the Albania international to leave Stamford Bridge until they have made an attacking acquisition of their own.

Howe will continue to push for at least one more signing before the window closes, although he is adamant he will not be upsetting the dynamic within the current squad just to add some depth to his attacking ranks.

“As I’ve said many times, we’re looking,” said the Newcastle head coach. “We are aware that there are certain parts of the squad that we’d love to strengthen and give us more options.

“But that’s no reflection of anybody we currently have in our squad because I think we’ve shown that we love everybody within the group. There’s a very good feeling internally, within the dynamic of the team, so we desperately don’t want to harm that either.”

Howe is also hoping to recruit another attacking midfielder, although it appears as though Newcastle’s interest in James Maddison is at an end with Leicester adamant they will not be selling the England international.

Everton’s Anthony Gordon and Leeds’ Jack Harrison remain of interest, but while Howe will continue to be integrally involved in Newcastle’s recruitment team, he admits a big chunk of him is looking forward to the start of September when the window swings shut.

“I think there’s always that part of you that, as much as you’re frustrated that you can’t sign any more players when they window has closed, there’s actually a nice relief when the window shuts and you can say, ‘Right, that’s the group that we have – and that’s the group we’re going to go forward with’,” he said.

“Nothing can change that then. My focus is always on the players we have inside the building, not externally. That’s always been my first instinct, to try to develop them, even when the window is open.

“But a lot of your time is taken up with the window because it’s such an important process as you try to get the right players in. It’s an ever-changing thing, so if you’re not careful, you can waste a lot of time watching players that maybe aren’t attainable, or for lots of different reasons that you can’t get. That’s part of the job though, and it goes with it hand in hand.”