'We can't' - Gary Neville hits out at Premier League and makes Newcastle United plea supporters will love
Gary Neville has urged the Premier League to stop ‘holding Newcastle United back’ and make changes to its financial rules.
Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) continues to be a major hurdle in the Magpies’ quest to reach the top with head coach Eddie Howe making his and the club’s hierarchy’s frustrations known throughout the summer.
United were forced to sell academy graduate Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton & Hove Albion for a combined £68million yet failed to bring in a major signing.
Newcastle engaged in a month-long pursuit of Marc Guehi but refused to meet Crystal Palace’s £70m asking price with Howe telling NewcastleWorld on Friday that every “decision impacts future windows and our PSR situation drastically so I think then you’ll understand the importance of every decision that we’re making and if you’re not absolutely certain on this being the right direction to take, you can’t take it and you’ll have to make that decision another day.”
Two of United’s five summer signings, Lloyd Kelly and John Ruddy, joined on a free transfers while fees paid for Lewis Hall, Will Osula and Odysseas Vlachodimos - who joined as part of the Anderson agreement with Forest - ranked the club among the lowest spenders.
Neville shares Newcastle’s frustrations believing PSR, which allows clubs to lose £105m over a three-year rolling cycle, is holding them back under the riches of their PIF owners.
“I think it is the most bizarre transfer window,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I think PSR now is beginning to be applied by the Premier League and that’s why we’re seeing a lot of clubs, including Manchester United, having to navigate around selling players they maybe would want to
“PSR was never designed so clubs had to sell their best academy players, and that’s what we’re seeing so something needs to change dramatically in the next 12 months in terms of the rules.
“Newcastle, I think, we be able to invest in the squad. Again, PSR needs changing so owner investment is allowed so Newcastle can get to the level of Manchester City and other clubs.
“We can’t just keep a thumb on clubs heads and say ‘you’re not going to invest’. What we have to do is do it with security and sustainability in mind. That means the owner funding might have to go in upfront but we can’t keep holding Newcastle back and we are at this moment in time.”