‘I think’ - Newcastle United CEO’s response when asked about potential deadline day incoming

Newcastle United Chief Executive Officer Darren Eales has played down hopes of any deadline day arrivals.

Unlike previous deadline days gone by under Eddie Howe when the Magpies have remained active in the transfer market, the club already looks to have concluded its summer transfer business.

Yankuba Minteh was the first to arrive from Danish outfit Odense Boldklub for £7million before being loaned to Dutch champions Feyenoord for the 2023-24 campaign.

United’s recruitment team then turned its focus to immediate first-team additions and secured a marquee signing with the £52m arrival of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.

Harvey Barnes was the next to arrive from Leicester City for £38m before being shortly followed by Tino Livramento from Southampton in a deal worth £30m plus add-ons.

Lewis Hall was confirmed as Newcastle’s fifth - and likely final - summer signing on a season-long loan, which includes an obligation to buy of an initial £28m next summer.

Putting the Hall fee on next year’s accounts, the Magpies have spent around £130m and Eales admits that’s expected to be that in terms of incomings.

Eales said: “I think we’re pretty much set with what we’ve done. We’re excited about the additions we’ve made in this transfer window. And as I said before, we’ve got a great squad that can really compete in this competition [Champions League].”

The Magpies chief was speaking at the UEFA Champions League group draw, which saw the club allocated into Group F alongside European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.

“What a group. It’s the super-group of death isn’t it? It’s three great teams,” Eales said. “Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund - the yellow wall - then obviously AC Milan - Sandro Tonali’s old team.

“I think of AC Milan when we had over 10,000 Geordies in the wonderful city of Milan. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Mackem in Milan either so it’s going to be exciting for the Geordies!

“Paris Saint-Germain football royalty. Borussia Dortmund as well is a great football club, the yellow wall is amazing. Both fanbases will appreciate each other because the noise at St James’ Park for the first night is going to be something really special.

“We’re really excited. 20 years is a long time without Champions League. We had a great season last season and we’re not just here to make up the numbers, we want to be competing on all fronts. We’ve got six big games ahead of us in the group stage but we’ve got a great coach in Eddie Howe and great players.

“We’re really going to give it our all. We want our fans to dream and we’ve got a group they can get excited about. We feel we’ve got the players and coaching staff and the set-up to compete with all the teams. It’s going to be tough, we understand that, but we’re going to give it our best.”