Eddie Howe seems to have won his first battle with Newcastle’s new sporting director, Paul Mitchell. Despite a series of behind-the-scenes changes at Tyneside, Howe has shown he remains in charge of strengthening the squad this summer.
Reports indicate that Newcastle’s chiefs held face-to-face talks with Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this week about a potential move to St James’ Park, even though Howe was not interested in signing the centre-back.
According to talkSPORT, the Magpies have decided to end their pursuit of the Frenchman, leaving Juventus and West Ham to compete for the 23-year-old’s signature.
This is a significant success for Howe, demonstrating his veto power over transfers still exists weeks after director Amanda Staveley left the club.
Howe had an agreement with former Toon chief Amanda Staveley that he would have the final say on transfers, and her departure raised doubts about whether he still had the authority to block certain signings.
However, the 46-year-old has stood firm in turning down the chance to pursue Todibo further, and the club will now consider alternative targets.
Todibo, once on Barcelona’s books before an unsuccessful stint in La Liga, is in high demand this summer and has been tracked by Chelsea and Manchester United.
