The big issue slowing down Newcastle United right now in summer transfer window

It likely won't have escaped your notice as a Newcastle United fan that we've not exactly lived up to the early promise of the summer in terms of incoming transfers.

Things looked like they were going to get off to a blistering start for the Magpies incoming business as deals for Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo were done quickly, albeit with the latter eventually doing a U-turn and joining Chelsea.

Still, it looked like Newcastle meant business and we'd get our new players in quickly to get them up to speed and ready for the new campaign.

Since then, however, other than confirming the signing of Lewis Hall and bringing in two goalkeepers, one of which is a glorified training dummy, things have been very, very quiet.

Eddie Howe says the club still doesn't know the transfer budget for this summer

Granted, a lot has changed behind the scenes with the boardroom shuffle and the appointment of Paul Mitchell as sporting director who will have a huge say on transfers, so it is understandable that things have slowed down slightly.

However, Eddie Howe has revealed something that is really hindering progress and that is that they still don't even know their budget as he told Keith Downie.

“We hope to add (players), definitely. We have recruited four players, but of course two of them are goalkeepers.

"We have quite a bit to do on the outfield side of our squad. We have a hangover of injuries from last year with players still not fully training with yet. So I think we need to add players — and we hope to.

"I don’t really know that (the budget) yet, we are still in the process of working things out because there’s been a change with Paul Mitchell coming in as Sporting Director.”

Have Newcastle United not heard of Microsoft Excel?

Shouldn't we have had this nailed down weeks ago? Then make the adjustments after the PSR hellscape at the end of June. How hard can it be? I'm genuinely asking here, because I'm not a football finance expert by any means.

Surely they should have at least a ballpark figure? I mean, they must know whether they can go out and get Jonathan David for £25million and still have enough left over for another player or two without knowing the specific number.

Howay lads, get your calculators out and get to work, eh? It would be nice for our new arrivals to have at least one training session before the season starts.