'Totally aware' - Matthias Jaissle makes Newcastle United transfer claim after yet another exit agreed
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle spoke to the media for his official unveiling press conference at St James’ Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle kept coy on potential incoming signings at the club despite an increasingly urgent need for new additions.
The Magpies have lost several senior players so far this summer, including four players in the full-back positions. Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett and Emil Krafth were all released at the end of their contracts while the club have also just agreed the loan exit of left-back Alex Murphy to Bundesliga 2 side FC Kaiserslautern.
Added to that, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley have been struggling with various fitness problems which has seen Jaissle inherit a squad with no senior available full-backs for his opening friendly match against Valencia.
And with less than two weeks before the Premier League opener against Liverpool, the German was asked whether the issue would be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Yeah, we are totally aware in the club, internally, which positions we might need to strengthen the squad, but this is nothing for the press conference,” Jaissle told The Gazette.
“We believe in the players we have now, and we had the chat after the match in Valencia where we were really happy that the young lad's getting the chance, so that's also the approach from this club.
“Every minute they're getting, the better it is, because then they can grow. But like I said in my first statement, there will be adjustments in the squad, but we still have time.”
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In addition to losing full-backs, Newcastle have also sold club captain Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for significant fees this summer while the five incoming signings are all young and unproven in the Premier League.
“Obviously in that transition phase, you know the players who left the club, they were great characters, great players, experienced players, and this is now a vacuum, we call it, right,” he added.
“And then other players need to step in, either you adjust something in the squad by signing these players, these profiles, or other players need to step up and fill these positions and leadership roles.
“So I'm quite optimistic, you can work in both scenarios, my job is to do the best out of it, and again, without telling you now too much, in the press conference we are aware of what we need in the squad, everyone internally is aware of that, and we're working on solutions.”
When asked if he is expecting a busy final three weeks of the transfer window, Jaissle continued: “I can honestly not interpretate what is busy for you, probably it's different busy than what I think is busy.
“It's a job for Ross [Wilson] and the management to find their solutions, to provide something, and we are all really optimistic, like I said.
“We have time, now I'm here for 36 hours in Newcastle, so I had a bit of time in La Manga already to get the lads better, to know we're working, that's all I can say here in the press conference.