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:
5. Sean Longstaff
The Geordie midfielder has enjoyed some memorable nights in black and white but last season was phased out of the starting XI. Howe has already suggested he won’t stand in Longstaff’s way should he decide to leave his boyhood club. | AFP via Getty Images
6. Lloyd Kelly
After spending the second-half of last season on loan at Juventus, Kelly will officially complete his permanent £20m move on June 30. The defender only joined Newcastle last summer but made just four Premier League starts. | Getty Images
7. Joe White
White performed well during his loan spell at League Two side MK Dons last season but will hoping to impress further up the pyramid. Another loan deal is most likely but at 22-years-old, both the player and Newcastle have to consider his long-term. | Getty Images
8. Harrison Ashby
After two loan spells at Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers in the Championship, is it now or never for the former West Ham right-back at Newcastle? If the latter, then it’s best for both parties that he is moved on. | Getty Images