 CARETAKER boss Chris Hughton is finally expected to get the green light to make a foray into the transfer market. The Chronicle understands that after Sebastien Bassong’s £8m move to Tottenham, preliminary discussions with the White Hart Lane club have taken place over the prospect of two Spurs youngsters making the return journey to Tyneside on loan deals. However, these moves will not be made until a couple of days before the transfer deadline on September 1. Hughton – who has also seen Habib Beye and Obafemi Martins sold and Michael Owen and Mark Viduka leave – has been left powerless when it comes to recruitment this summer, and was only informed of David Edgar’s departure to Burnley on July 1 when he spotted the player on TV joining the Turf Moor club. With Peter Lovenkrands being overlooked for a permanent transfer to United after his loan from Schalke 04 last season, Hughton has less than 20 senior players in his squad. And with the Football League rules amended this season, he must name a matchday squad of 18 players, leaving little room for error and only inexperienced reserve and Academy players to bridge the gap. Hughton told the Chronicle today: “I am realistic enough to know that if I’m still in the seat as the weeks go on, discussions will have to take place over players going and so on, but at the moment it hasn’t happened.” Part of the hold up is the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the club with Mike Ashley contemplating taking the Magpies off the market for a second time inside 12 months. Ashley is expected back from Hawaii this week and will meet with Seymour Pierce’s Keith Harris to see exactly where the sale of the club is after three months on the market – however it is no secret that Harris is struggling to find a buyer that can come up with the £100m asking price in one chunk, as well as taking on the club’s overdraft and Premier League wage bill. It’s understood that the tycoon has instructed his board to sound out the possibility of a new manager, should he change his mind again, and Alan Curbishley, a close pal of managing director Derek Llambias, Gordon Strachan and David O’Leary, who is currently on a family break in Ireland, are all on a shortlist. On the game itself, Hughton added: “One thing the players did know was that the eyes were on them. Not just their quality, but how they applied themselves, their attitude and their desire to win the game. “I think that’s what they were able to do. “I would have liked more clear-cut chances, but what we were able to do was work the ball into the final third.” :: UNITED will stage a behind-closed-doors friendly with Leeds tomorrow. | 
Article
