Eddie Howe admits Joelinton may have played his last game for Newcastle amid a contract stand-off.

Mail Sport revealed last week that the Brazilian and the club were too far apart in negotiations and had reached an impasse, meaning he could be sold in the summer.

Joelinton has 18 months to run on his deal and his current demands would make him Newcastle’s highest paid. The club’s hierarchy will not shatter their wage structure and they would be forced to sell the midfielder if there is no resolution come the summer.

The 27-year-old had thigh surgery this week and will not be fit until May, with an outside chance he could play this season. Howe wants to keep the player but says the situation is out of his control.

‘He has 18 months left on his contract. As his manager, I’m determined for him to stay. I love him as a person and a player, so that would be my wish, for him to sign a long-term contract,’ said Howe.

Eddie Howe has admitted that Joelinton may have played his last game for Newcastle

Eddie Howe has admitted that Joelinton may have played his last game for Newcastle

Eddie Howe has admitted that Joelinton may have played his last game for Newcastle

Howe accepted it is possible Joelinton could be sold in the summer amid a contract stand-off

Howe accepted it is possible Joelinton could be sold in the summer amid a contract stand-off

Howe accepted it is possible Joelinton could be sold in the summer amid a contract stand-off

‘But, of course, there’s more to it than that. There’s Joe’s wishes and what he wants. Before he signs a contract he has to be entirely happy with everything. We’re not at that stage yet.’

He added: ‘I’m not a fortune teller and I certainly hope that is not the case (played his last game). There is a possibility that could be the case, but I don’t know. Eighteen months (left on a contract) is a vulnerable time for a club. The club will need to tie Joe down to a longer-term contract or there is a possibility he will be sold in the summer. That is just the reality of the situation.’

Meanwhile, Howe says he is relieved that it looks like Kieran Trippier will now remain at St James’ Park after the club rejected three offers from Bayern Munich, the latest of which was for £12.8million.

‘We obviously hope he’ll stay – and I’m very confident he will – and be part of our long-term future, but I have to make it clear that he’s never asked to leave or even questioned his future here,’ said Howe. ‘He’s always been fully committed.

‘We’ve had a lot of conversations in the last week and it’s always been about Newcastle, and I think it was very important that I made that clear and got that out there to everybody, that his commitment to Newcastle shouldn’t be questioned.

‘It’s a huge compliment that a club like Bayern are interested in him. It’s no surprise to me because he’s an outstanding player.

‘For us, I want to keep our best players, I want to keep every player in a squad that is very thin on the ground at the moment, so contemplating losing a player at this stage would be very difficult for me personally, but especially our best players and Kieran is certainly one of those.’

Newcastle rejected a loan offer for Callum Wilson from Atletico Madrid last week and there were also conversations around interest from AC Milan. Chelsea and West Ham are monitoring the striker’s situation.

Newcastle rejected a loan offer for striker Callum Wilson from Atletico Madrid last week

Newcastle rejected a loan offer for striker Callum Wilson from Atletico Madrid last week

Newcastle rejected a loan offer for striker Callum Wilson from Atletico Madrid last week

Howe says that he is eager to keep Miguel Almiron amid speculation over his future

Howe says that he is eager to keep Miguel Almiron amid speculation over his future

Howe says that he is eager to keep Miguel Almiron amid speculation over his future

‘From our side, Callum is a huge part of what we’re doing,’ said Howe. ‘We’re desperate to get our two strikers fit at the same time, which we haven’t had for a long time now and that’s hurt us in lots of different ways. But he’s nearing fitness. There’s no part of me that wants to lose Callum.

‘In every conversation that I’ve had with Callum – very similar to Kieran – he’s 100 per cent committed to Newcastle. No part of him is looking elsewhere.He wants to come back and score goals, he’s got big ambitions for the second half of the season and we want to keep him here.

‘Obviously some things are out of my control and of course the club is acting within the long-term interests of the club and has to, and I understand that and am fully supportive of it, so let’s see what happens.’

There have been talks with Saudi club Al-Shebab over Miguel Almiron. The winger wants to stay but there could be movement if they return with an offer north of £20m.

Howe said: ‘There’s been a lot of noise and a lot of speculation about his future, but certainly as his manager, I’m desperate to keep him. He’s been an integral part since I’ve come to the club in the sense that his contribution has been immense, whether that’s goalscoring last season or his work-rate, discipline, commitment and professionalism all throughout his time.

‘But there has been a lot of noise and that noise comes from somewhere, but hopefully we can keep him and the window shuts quickly.’

Meanwhile, Howe said the club could not afford a loan move for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips. We understand the fee was close to £7m.

‘We had to step away from that one due to financial reasons,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it was financial-related.’

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