A hot, frustrating summer for Howe!

IT may have been an in-house interview, but Eddie Howe's frustrations were clear.

- By CIARAN KELLY

"There has been a lot of work transfer-wise for very little incoming-wise," the Newcastle United boss admitted.

Those words were timely. Hugo Ekitike looked bound for Liverpool at the time of recording and the striker is set to join Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen on a list of quality players that Newcastle looked at - only to see move elsewhere this summer.

Newcastle's ambition is not in doubt the black and whites are fishing in a shallow pool alongside a number of other big hitters but Anthony Elanga remains the club's only major signing with just a few weeks to go until the start of the new Premier League campaign.