'Frustrating': Eddie Howe now bemoans Newcastle's inability to be active in the transfer market

Newcastle United are still no closer to bringing any players in during this transfer window, and Eddie Howe now says we shouldn't expect any.

If ever there was a transfer window Newcastle needed to be active in it was this one. The Magpies have faced injury after injury and so many of them have been long-term, yet, thanks to the throttling restrictions of FFP or PSR or whatever they're calling this anti-competition rule these days, the club with the richest backers in world football can do nothing.

Despite the club increasing their revenue by 40% for the second year in a row, and despite signing a £200million deal with Adidas and a few hefty commercial deals on top, Newcastle still find themselves unable to spend in January due to the way FFP is set up.

FFP/PSR needs to get in the bin

It's a huge frustration at the best of times, but when we desperately need players in to refill our decrepit squad, it takes on a whole new level.

Vince Mignott via Getty Images

Now Eddie Howe has voiced his frustrations, pointing the finger at the restrictive rules in the process (via The Chronicle).

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Dominic Solanke this winter and Howe admits that as much as he likes the player, we simply can't afford him. With the PIF behind us that should never be a sentence we should be hearing.

"Given the freedom to act, we would have brought players in already but we're not in that situation. The owners are very ambitious & would like to improve the squad at every opportunity but the rules & conditions we're working under don't allow that.

"A frustrating story for me because, yes I love Dominic Solanke, I signed him and I rate him very, very highly. But we have not made an enquiry for him and we don't have the ability to sign a player of that level."

Give us something. Anything!

As much as I'm personally not convinced by Solanke, I'd take him right now. I'd have Shefki Kuqi back at this point just to give us an extra option.

The frustrations we have faced this season with FFP restrictions and injuries have really tested the club and the fanbase after such a brilliant campaign last season.

We're still in the running for a European spot, but the way things are looking it's not going to be a comfortable ride.