Saudi owners will spend “serious money” this summer if Toon secure European football – Andy Cole

Andy Cole has been discussing all things Newcastle United thirty years on from his £1.75m move to St James’ Park.

Speaking to Betway, he’s backed our owners to spend “serious money” this summer, believing our recruitment will go to the next level if we manage to secure Champions League football for the 2023/24 season.

The striker, who bagged a stunning 68 goals and 23 assists in 84 appearances on Tyneside, has applauded the job Eddie Howe has done on and off the pitch, praising Joelinton’s turnaround and the quality of our signings, describing Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman as “frightening” signings.

Cole, 51, was part of the ‘Entertainers’ era under Kevin Keegan, where Newcastle United unsettled England’s elite with free flowing football and goals galore. Eddie Howe’s Mags may not be quite as prolific in the final third just yet, but with high-energy football and 16 clean sheets in all competitions, the Toon boss has created his own blue print for success at St James’.

Here’s the Q&A in full, starting with Cole’s thoughts on our fans and future signings.

What’s it like to be a Newcastle player when the club is bouncing? It sounds like an amazing atmosphere?

“It’s absolutely frightening. Games at the weekend, sold out and it’s raucous. Absolute bedlam.

“All that Newcastle fans want is for their team to give 100 per cent. Naturally, they want to win matches, but if the players give 100 per cent, they’ll support you until they can’t give anymore. And that’s what they’re getting now.

“They’re in the final of the League Cup, they’re third in the league, and from now until the end of the season you can guarantee they will be 100 per cent behind the team.

“If they were to qualify for Europe, regardless of which competition it is, the atmosphere would be unbelievable. I’m sure some serious money would be spent on new players, too.

“The owners will be wondering if they can get Champions League. And if they get Champions League, they will be thinking, “right, we can bring in X, Y, Z.

“If their model is like Manchester City’s and they bring in the right players, the only way it can end up is that they compete for the biggest titles in England and in Europe. It’s inevitable, even if it takes a few years.”

Another of your former clubs, Newcastle, are flying. What have you made of them this season?

“Very good. Fair play to the players, management staff and the recruitment staff.

“Considering where they were this time last year, it’s a great turnaround. They’ve brought in four or five quality players and it’s changed everything.

“You probably wouldn’t even say that the new signings are big names, but they’ve been absolutely frightening. Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes, they’ve all been brilliant.

“But the players who were already there are totally different, too. Joelinton is like a new player.

“It just shows you that when you work on a certain way of playing and everybody buys into it, you can succeed.”