“That is not an option for us” – Howe explains why spending plans will be limited this summer

Eddie Howe has been speaking about our summer transfer plans and the Financial Fair Play restrictions that will limit the club’s spending power.

During today’s press conference, the NUFC boss was quizzed about the level of investment he expects to see over the coming months, seeing him accept that FFP rules will reduce our ability to make wholesale changes.

He hints that these restrictions won’t allow us to spend huge sums of money – as it will come back to bite us in future windows as it has done recently at Everton – and insists that gradual progression will be key, but not without ambition.

Howe said earlier today that “world-class players” are still being targeted, with an ambitious vision in place to start next season with a “better squad”, suggesting we plan to work around FFP to the best of our ability – even if that means spending carefully and selling smartly.

When asked if the Premier League’s rules on spending will impact Newcastle’s summer spending plans, Howe said:

“There’s an element of truth in that.

“With Financial Fair Play, we have restraints and we have things that we have to work within, so we can’t just go out and spend money on players like maybe teams could have done in the past and totally change their squad within one transfer window.

“That is not an option for us. The more money you spend in one window, the more it impacts upon your ability to then spend in windows beyond.

“The rules are there to govern the game properly and we have to follow suit, so that does impact upon what we can do this summer.

“But it doesn’t mean that we’re totally without ambition. We want to try to bring the right players in, ones that are proud to wear the shirt and that can make a difference.

“We’re well aware that we have to change the squad and we have to make improvements, but it’s going to be a difficult balance.

“We’ve sat down and discussed the squad and I think we have a very good vision of where we want to take the team.

“Now the hard part comes where you have to reshape the squad, both ins and outs, and try to come back with a better squad.”