Two positions Newcastle must prioritise this summer if Eddie Howe follows his own transfer advice

The more optimistic fans on Tyneside are eagerly awaiting a big summer of transfer action at Newcastle United, with a plethora of big-money incomings and a host of outgoings before the start of next season. Speculation persists over a number of squad players who are battling for their future, while big-money targets are being touted by agents across the globe in the hope the Magpies will bite.

But Eddie Howe's old transfer advice suggests he may not actually want that many new additions at all in the coming months. Speaking to former Wigan boss Gary Caldwell, Howe reportedly offered words of wisdom regarding the summer window and not changing too much with a huge amount of new arrivals.

"Eddie Howe spoke to Gary Caldwell and one of the messages he said to him was don’t make too many changes, one or two at a time because you’ll rip up the camaraderie between the team and what you’ve instilled into the players," former Wigan defender Stephen Warnock admitted on BBC 5Live at the weekend.

“One of the things that Gary Caldwell often says is ‘I wish I’d have listened to him more’ because he brought about seven or eight players in and it changed the dynamics within the changing room. Now you add them slowly, maybe three or four max, you can get away with it. They have to be top drawer players, you have to add real quality, but that was coming from Eddie Howe so whether he keeps to that or whether the money drives him to buy more quality, we’ll have to wait and see in the summer."

So if Howe sticks to his own advice this summer, where should he prioritise? For starters, a new striker would be a welcomed addition. "As an attacking force today, we probably weren't at our best," Howe said after the defeat to Liverpool.

Chris Wood