Eddie Howe reveals brutal Newcastle PSR truth as Man City swoop to seal £33.5m transfer

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has revealed the Magpies had done all the preparation to sign new Man City defender Abdukodir Khusanov this month.

Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell is a big fan of the Uzbekistan international but Newcastle were unable to move this month because of their PSR (profit and sustainability rules) situation.

Newcastle were keen to sign the 20-year-old in the summer but instead City swooped in this month to take advantage of the situation and sealed his £33.5million transfer from French side Lens earlier this week.

Garait Khasbiullin, the agent of the new Manchester City defender, claimed that Newcastle were close to landing Khusanov before City made their move.

Speaking to Championat, Khasbiullin said: "Newcastle was very close to a deal. They were even one of the favourites, and then they were the last to leave the race with City. As far as I understand, financial fair play also played a role. And they didn’t have enough time. Perhaps, if they had made an offer earlier, they would have managed to reach an agreement.

"Then City put so much pressure on Lens that it was difficult to make a comparable offer. The fact that the French needed this saving money also played a role."

Newcastle could sell Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly this month as they look to improve their PSR picture. Almiron has been heavily linked with a move back to MLS side Atlanta United, while Juventus are keen to sign Kelly. However, those sales are unlikely to give Newcastle the freedom to improve their squad in January.

And speaking to the media this morning, Howe has said he is remaining pragmatic on Newcastle's transfer situation and admitted it looks unlikely there will be any incomings at St James' Park this