Dominic Solanke has scored 12 goals in the Premier League this season (Getty)
Eddie Howe has ruled Newcastle United out of the race to sign Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke in the January transfer window.
Solanke, who worked under Howe at Bournemouth, has been in excellent form this season with 12 goals in the Premier League.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for the Solanke this month, while reports this week have claimed that Newcastle have also made an enquiry.
However, Howe concedes that Newcastle are not in a position to sign the 26-year-old during to Financial Fair Play concerns.
The Newcastle boss is also sceptical about his side’s ability to sign players on loan due to competition from their Premier League rivals.
‘Yes, a frustrating story for me because, yes, I love Dominic Solanke, I signed him and I rate him very, very highly,’ Howe said.
‘But we have not made an enquiry for him and we don’t have the ability to sign a player of that level.
Dominic Solanke played under Eddie Howe at Bournemouth (Getty)
‘Given the freedom to act, we would have brought players in already but we’re not in that situation. The owners are very ambitious and would like to improve the squad at every opportunity but the rules & conditions we’re working under don’t allow that.
‘Sometimes you have to make short-term signings, take your long-term vision away and do something to help us for the here and now. I’d be quite happy to do that. We’re probably in a short-term moment now where the squad needs help for the next few weeks.
‘I think there is value in the loan market, but I’m not sure there is for us.
‘We’re in that moment where I don’t think we have many friends in the market. I’m not sure anyone wants to help us out.’
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