Newcastle United's talks to appoint Eddie Howe as the new manager at St James' Park are not over yet.

What's the latest?

That's according to a claim made by Luke Edwards, with the journalist revealing on Twitter that, despite recent reports suggesting that the Magpies' discussions to appoint the 43-year-old are at risk of collapsing, talks between the two parties are still ongoing.

Regarding the club's discussions with Howe, the journalist said: "I'm told they are still working on things and still talking."

Fans will be buzzing

Considering how quickly the January transfer window is approaching, in addition to just how poor Newcastle have been in the league so far this season, the news that the club's talks with Howe aren't dead in the water just yet is sure to leave the St James' Park faithful buzzing.

Indeed, if the Magpies are to give themselves the best possible chance of beating the drop by the end of the season, it would seem vital for the club's new owners to have appointed Steve Bruce's successor well before the January transfer window opens. In that case, the new manager should have ample time to assess the current Newcastle squad, determine the positions in which it is in most need of reinforcements, and identify potential targets to bring into the squad during the winter market.

However, should the club's talks with Howe collapse, Newcastle will find themselves back to square one in their search for a new manager. The longer the wait goes on, the more it could substantially worsen their chances of retaining their status as a Premier League club next season.

As such, Edwards' claim that negotiations are still ongoing with Howe is undoubtedly positive news for the Magpies, who will certainly be hoping that a resolution can be found in talks with the former Bournemouth manager as quickly as possible.

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