It’s not right. It’s not fair. It’s making it nigh on impossible for ambitious clubs to close the gap. But sadly, the game’s the game and Newcastle United have found that out the hard way in the last 12 months.
The Magpies were hours away from breaching PSR last summer before reluctantly selling Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively. Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly then departed in January to ensure United headed into the summer in a stable financial position.
Eddie Howe has the license to spend this summer but when PSR is in play, restrictions always apply. What the club’s transfer budget isn’t known publicly but one way of increasing it, as mentioned, is offloading players.
Now we’re not talking Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali etc - for the record they won’t be going anywhere - but rather the fringe players that Newcastle have on their books. Here, NewcastleWorld takes a look at the players Howe could be open to offers for:
1. Martin Dubravka
The 36-year-old Slovakian penned a new one-year contract earlier this year after performing superbly in Nick Pope’s absence. However since Pope has returned, Dubravka has reverted to being second choice. | Getty Images
2. Jamaal Lascelles
An ACL injury has meant Lascelles last played for Newcastle in March 2024. He’s back fit now and is invaluable as ever behind the scenes, however the potential arrival of another centre-back will only push him down the pecking order. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Matt Targett
It feels like Targett has barely kicked a ball since his loan spell from Aston Villa was turned permanent three years ago. With Lewis Hall making the left-back spot his own and Tino Livramento an equally dependable back-up, the 29-year-old is rarely part of the conversation these days. | Getty Images
4. Joe Willock
Having been a regular in Eddie Howe’s team during the 2022-23 Champions League qualification campaign, Willock has started just 16 matches in the past two seasons. And in those games, he’s really struggled to impress. | Getty Images