The Telegraph have released a potentially sobering ‘exclusive’ on Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans, reporting that the budget released by the Saudi PIF will be much lower than some have suggested.
Luke Edwards claims that our new owners have already ruled out making ‘expensive superstar signings’ and will instead pursue a policy that’s been described as “pragmatic ambition.”
What does this mean? Well, The Telegraph have revealed that Eddie Howe is expected to work with a budget which is LESS than the £90m spent in January.
Instead, it’s said our summer transfer budget will be around the £60m mark, meaning any big spending spree has been put on hold, giving us “room for manoeuvre” in the future under Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
Additional funds could still be raised through players sales, and the report names Jamal Lewis, Isaac Hayden and Ciaran Clark as three of several fringe men who could well be moved on.
Howe is believed to be eyeing ‘three to four’ new signings this summer, with the club determined not to blow the current wage structure that sees our top earners receive around £100,000-per-week.
As a result, The Telegraph reveal that our new owners ‘laughed off’ links with a £200m move for Neymar last week, insisting that the transfer budget sanction by the Saudi PIF is nothing like what some have reported.
The report also states that we want to ‘evolve into one of the top sides in England’, not spend huge sums at every opportunity in a bid to become a contender overnight.
So, a surprise for those expecting this to be a summer of major signings at St James’ Park, but perhaps more proof that these new owners are in it for the long haul…
The policy of incremental improvement is right; although where that leaves players like Bruno who may have signed on the understanding of a higher budget is unknown. Paying top ‘dollar’ from the off will be self-defeating.
Taff(Quote)
Luke Edwards knows this how?
Laughable click bait article from the Telegraph 😆 you can tell it’s the international break.
Porkpie(Quote)
Serious question, would any right-minded newcastle fan want an over rated diva like Neymar at our club? F**k that Sh*T. Give us Big Dan Burn any day. Someone who plays for the shirt.
A(Quote)
Who knows if the amount quoted by Luke Edwards is real or made. What I do know is that the new owners talked about gradual improvement over the next year or so once our Prem status is secured. What will happen is next season we will see some highly rated younger players in the £15-£30M range with more being played for a striker or two. Might just make a punt on one of the many European places. Season 23/24 is when there could be a larger spend to move to the next level of top six.
Michael sursham(Quote)
Why would they say our budget is 100M because that will be quoted for an average player. By saying maximum of 50 – 60 million will prevent anyone asking for exorbitant amounts for their players. Our owners showed us in January that they won’t be held to ransom
Mark H(Quote)
Firstly we will never reveal our budget! If we do we will only bump up the price of our targets!
Secondly & most importantly Luke Edwards has got very little right about the club for years! He stated no takeover & anyone that thought there was is in cloud cocoo land!
Then our January budget was a maximum £50m !
See a theme? 😉
Scott(Quote)
Total nonsense. Our owners will not be giving out spending until they and Eddie deem it. Hopefully a sensible pragmatic approach bringing the right calibre of players as in Bruno, Dan Burn and hopefully Matt Targett alongside Keiran and one other young CB with pace.
One in midfield and a striker who hopefully is not injury prone and a goalkeeper. That should be fine for now.
Bryan Kerswill(Quote)
Personally, I reckon the new owners might be briefing the media that our spending won’t be big to make sure selling clubs don’t look to rip us off.
We were clearly quoted silly fees in January and treated like the “richest club in the world” – where as talk of a modest budget and sensible spending may change that narrative when we go into negotiations.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)