It is set to be another busy window for Newcastle, who may well sell at least one more key player if they miss out on the Champions League, having already sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, in order to reinvest in the squad.
Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon are among those prized assets who have attracted interest.
Although Howe is focused on the run-in, he insisted he had “no issues” working with the conditions that the club set, as long those restrictions were made clear externally as he does not think “you can have expectations that warp reality”.
Hopkinson stated in December that his vision was for Newcastle to be in the debate to be the number one club in the world by 2030.
“I just need support,” Howe added. “Good working relationships with the people around me, a feeling of being able to express myself in the best way possible so you see the best version of myself.
“If I feel that and the club feels that, they are getting the best manager that they can from myself.
“Obviously, if that’s not working, for whatever reason, on both sides, then it’s what’s best for the football club.
“The most important thing in all of this is Newcastle United. Not me, not anyone else, and I’ll always reflect that in my decision-making. I’ll put the club before anyone.”
Newcastle resume their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on Sunday (14:00 BST).
Bruno Guimaraes will miss the trip to Selhurst Park after illness delayed his return from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-February.
