United set to make early moves for stars

NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe has talked up the prospect of the Magpies making early progress in the transfer window next month.

- LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle United writer [e-mail] @lee_ryder

The transfer window opens early this year between June 1 and June 10 to allow clubs participating in the FIFA World Cup to do business early.

However, it also leaves the door ajar for Newcastle and Premier League rivals to also make early moves, something that would allow Howe to get players in for the start of pre-season - a wish he's made in previous summers.

Did Howe throw the gauntlet down to sporting director Paul Mitchell ahead of the summer window? Howe told The Journal: “It’s great that the window opens on June 1. The challenge is for us to sign players in early June.

“But it doesn’t always work like that. I hope in reality it does, but it rarely works like that.