Chelsea and Man Utd sent 'complex' message by Newcastle United over £18m transfer

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has sent Chelsea and Manchester United mixed messages amid transfer links to Magpies striker Callum Wilson.

The England international had been linked with an £18 million switch to the Premier League rivals this month as the Magpies look to raise funds and meet Financial Fair Play regulations. Wilson has struggled with injury this term and is often second choice to Alexander Isak on Tyneside.

The 31-year-old is also seven years Isak's senior and cashing in on the star had been seen as a possibility for Newcastle United. Wilson himself refused to deny the transfer claims last week, simply choosing to dodge the question when speaking on the BBC Sounds' Footballers Football Podcast.

Wilson, who is nursing a calf injury and is yet to play in 2024, was absent from the Magpies' matchday squad against Fulham as he recovers. In a press conference on Monday morning, Howe admitted that the player was 'close' to a return.

The Newcastle United boss was also asked about the club's transfer priorities going into the final days of the window - the side have also seen stars Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier linked with moves away. Howe said: "I don't know. Keeping the squad intact, as a manager, would be A1 for me. But, as I said so many times, we are guardians of the club's future and we want to make the right decisions for the club's future. We don't want to breach FFP and that's where I will support the decisions made for the long term future.

"We are waiting to see what happens. I don't want to talk about individual names. It's a complex situation. Nothing is clear cut and all eventualities could happen. What we probably won't do is bring a player in without losing one the other way."

Howe's candour appeared to hint that departures from Newcastle United would be possible before the window slams shut with the club open to accepting the right offers for players that might enable spending this summer. However, when asked directly about Wilson given links to Chelsea and Manchester United, Howe was more direct.

He said: "Callum is 100 per cent committed just like Kieran [Trippier]. That is why I was surprised by the noise about Callum. He is currently injured. From his perspective and our perspective, there is nothing in it."

Both Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked with a number of strikers his month as the clubs look to add firepower to their front line. Napoli star Victor Osimhen and Brentford talisman Ivan Toney have both emerged as prime candidates but the £100 million and more needed for those deals is proving tricky to find mid-season. An £18 million deal for Wilson is believed to be more financially viable.