Long-serving manager lost faith in club project after summer of transfer failures and abuse left him mentally and emotionally drained

As transfer rumours swirl around midfield duo, Telegraph Sport goes inside St James’ Park to discover where club and players stand on moves

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

You are seeing this page because our security systems have detected some unusual activity on this connection. To regain access to The Telegraph website please try the following:

Eddie Howe’s team’s lack of a clinical finisher has been their undoing this season, the club need to act this summer

Eddie Howe a victim of his own success with demands from supporters soaring after fours years of overachievement