With Champions League football secured and a financial war chest ready to be spent, there’s no better time than now for Newcastle to seriously think about building a squad to compete across all competitions.

Looking back on the 2023/24 campaign, where a harsh UCL schedule took its toll on our squad, it’s vital that Eddie Howe and the club hierarchy learn the lessons from two years ago and ensure we have sufficient enough squad depth in our current team.

One key member of both squads, current captain Bruno Guimaraes, has openly addressed the need to add new stars to the team’s ranks.

This summer is going to be one of our biggest transfer windows ever, and if we want to satisfy the likes of Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali, then the very least we can do is

Bruno: “We are not at the level that I want”

Speaking to Sky Sports after our game against Everton, Bruno Guimaraes has praised the team’s achievements this season, but has confessed that our squad does need to improve if we want to go far in the Champions League and all our domestic competitions.

Having got as far as the semi-finals of the competition when he played for Lyon, the captain perhaps knows exactly what the squad needs more than anyone else.

“We have been improving a lot, but I think we are not at the level that I want.”

“I think for next season, we’re going to need more players to be honest with you, because I think this squad is a little bit short.”

“We have seen last season when we played Champions League, we lost some players to injury and it was messy for us, so I think we can improve the level of our squad.”

An opportunity too good to miss out on

Having not signed a first team player for three consecutive windows, and likely losing key squad players like Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles, the club now has the perfect excuse to finally flex their PSR muscles.

We’ve been linked with close to a dozen big names without the summer window officially opening, and there’s no doubt that more names will follow.

Already facing stiff competition for the likes of Liam Delap and Bryan Mbeumo, the club can use the allure of Champions League football to attract players like almost none of our rivals in the transfer market can.

But we’ll have to move quickly, as signing elite level talent will be instrumental not only to our hopes next season, but in assuring the likes of Guimaraes that the club is serious about competing, and to keep their faith in the Newcastle project.