Newcastle United want one more addition through the door before the end of the summer transfer window

Three summer signings and £120m later, Newcastle United look mightily close to the finished product. It’s no wonder Eddie Howe only wants one more through the door before the

end of the transfer window.

“I’d love one more player personally and I think then we’d have the ideal depth at this moment with the injuries that we currently have, let’s wait and see,” Howe told reporters

ahead of the Premier League opener against Aston Villa.

It’s early days and Newcastle’s premature position at the top of the tree cannot be overstated but Saturday’s 5-1 drubbing of Aston Villa was the perfect way to pick up from last

season. Howe’s men look fitter, leaner, hungrier and are oozing with confidence ahead of a mammoth campaign.

There is now an abundance of options for Howe to choose from, which was evident on Tyneside over the weekend. Sandro Tonali got the nod over Sean Longstaff in the midfield and

enjoyed arguably the best Premier League debut in black and white for a number of years.

Out wide it was Anthony Gordon who started from the outset, helped himself to an assist and shone throughout, causing all sorts of problems for Villa’s Matty Cash. Harvey Barnes,

his second-half replacement, also ended the tie with a goal and assist himself.

The truth is, Howe is spoilt for choice. The fact Barnes, Longstaff, Callum Wilson, Elliot Anderson and Tino Livramento were only substitutes shows the strength of Newcastle’s

bench this season. Now, attention turns to finding that ‘one more’.

Fans are clamouring for extra defensive cover, most torn between whether to splash out on a new centre-back or additional experience at full-back. Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are

the men in the immediate firing line should those positions be strengthened but both proved they have no desire to give up their spot without a fight after impressing in a solid

defensive display over the weekend.

Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing was a reminder that both Schar and Burn should still fill Newcastle supporters with confidence. While they both may not remain as starters in the seasons

to come, for the time being, they are more than valid options this term

Strengthening this Newcastle team further with a young, up and coming defensive asset would be smart. Bring someone in who can learn from Schar, Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, Kieran

Trippier et al, just as they did with Livramento.

Newcastle have hardly put a foot wrong in recent transfer windows and Tonali & Barnes’ St James’ Park showing on Saturday reaffirmed that. Now, it is up to Amanda Staveley, Dan

Ashworth and PIF to grant Howe his final transfer demand.

But the Villa win has proved the Magpies’ transfer committee should not be losing too much sleep over finding an additional signing to walk straight into the boss’ XI.