Newcastle accept defeat in pursuit of two £60m players ahead of January window - Report

Away from our issues on the pitch, one of the most frustrating themes of 2024 for Newcastle United has been PSR; the tedious financial rules that continues to limit our spending power.

As we know, Eddie Howe is crying out for a new right-winger ahead of the January window and a move for PSV's Johan Bakayoko may be on the cards, with the club looking for value-for-money gems overseas following Paul Mitchell's arrival.

However, there's news today of TWO Premier League wide men who look set to be priced out of winter moves to St James' Park.

£60m duo too expensive?

As revealed by The Telegraph's Luke Edwards, Newcastle look to have accepted defeat in their pursuit of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo ahead of the January window.

He reports that both wingers have been scouted extensively and are 'very much admired' but the club's recruitment team. However, the club have been keen to stress that their £50-60m price tags will prove too much in January.

Both have been talismanic figures for Brentford and Bournemouth so far this season, meaning they would demand fees north of what Newcastle can afford to spend this winter due to ongoing cautiousness around our PSR.

Edwards reports that Newcastle sources have been eager to distance themselves with moves for any player in the £50-60m price bracket ahead of the January window,

PSR isn't making sense

At this point, I am starting to question how it can be true that Newcastle do not have the funds to spend '£50-60m' one one player in January when a similar fee (if not more) was being offered for Marc Guehi just a few months ago.

Edwards may well be right on Mbeumo and Semenyo. We don't want to shoot the messenger and can't see the reality of Newcastle's financial situation in relation to PSR as of today, but it's hard to get your head around it all.

How can a club offering £60m+ for Guehi in August suddenly be in a position where a deal of similar value is a complete non-starter a few months down the line?