Newcastle United owners set to make sizeable summer transfer decision - on one condition
Newcastle United are planning for “all eventualities” ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Eddie Howe’s summer transfer budget will be dictated by where Newcastle United finish in the Premier League at the end of the season.
The Magpies, with 11 games remaining, are engaged in a Champions League qualification race after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United lifted Howe’s side to third in the table. Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Man United all sit on 50 points, but are still just six above seventh-place Aston Villa.
The uncertainly over where Howe’s men will finish, either in a Champions League, Europa League, Conference League spot, or drop out of the European places altogether, means United are currently planning for the summer window with three different potential budgets in mind.
“I think we need all eventualities covered so we’re not behind the curve, depending on what happens,” admitted Howe. “We’re in the process of doing all that work now. Me to a lesser degree because I’m preparing for the games but behind the scenes we are.”
Naturally, sealing a place in Europe’s most elite competition would boost Howe’s transfer budget and ability to attract a certain calibre of player to St James’ Park
“That would be an outcome, yes,” Howe said. “I can’t think about the outcome, I have to think about how we get there. That is what we’re working towards. But definitely, where we finish, that will dictate to a large part of what we can and can’t do in the summer.”
He added: “There is a huge amount of work for us to do [in the summer] on every level. Football never stands still. The teams competing with us will all try and do the same thing.
“We need to be smart with what we do and we are on a journey that is accelerating very quickly and we need to match that with our decision-making.”
While pundits continue to build up United’s top four hopes, Howe refuses to say the word in the public, although some of his players do.
“Players will always speak and they will say their own thoughts, which is fine, I’m OK with that,” he told NewcastleWorld.
“The aim is to try and beat West Ham and see where we go after that. I haven’t set a target or interacted in those kind of conversations because I don’t think they help us. It’s very much game-by-game and see where it takes us.
“I think we’re on a mission to try and win, and achieve and be the best we can be. I’ve sensed that from the players this season, that there’s a real determination and steeliness about us that we’re not here to waste time. We need that to continue right to the end of the season.”
Newcastle United’s owners - PIF, PCP Partners and RB Sports and Media - have spent around £250million on new signings since purchasing the club in October 2021.
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