Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has expressed his frustration over a recent EFL rule change that allows Manchester City’s new £64 million signing, Antoine Semenyo, to feature in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final despite having already played in the competition for Bournemouth.
Under the updated regulations, players are now permitted to represent two different clubs in a single cup campaign, a shift Howe admitted he was not “supportive of at this current moment” given the timing of Semenyo’s high-profile transfer.
While Howe praised the winger, noting that “Man City have signed a very, very good player,” the Magpies boss is simultaneously navigating a defensive injury crisis and the restrictive pressures of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Despite the need for reinforcements, Howe remains cautious about January recruitment, emphasizing that “if you sign the wrong player, you’re carrying that for a three, four, five-year contract” and must balance short-term squad depth against the long-term financial health of the club.