Newcastle Reporter Diary: Why did the club treat the summer transfer window with caution?

Sky Sports News Journalist Keith Downie breaks down Newcastle United’s summer transfer strategy and explains why arrivals have been much less after a high-spending winter window.

Has Newcastle been calmer in the market than expected?

“I think most people watching Newcastle this summer after what they did in January would expect them to spend huge amounts of money.

“But Eddie Howe has been saying for weeks now that it’s going to be very, very difficult to keep splashing like they did in January and the main reason for that is the Financial Fair Play restrictions the club are facing.

“That will change over time, but right now it’s pretty hard to spend the amount of money that they probably would want to spend and the owners would want to spend.”

Why haven’t more players arrived?

“I think some players chose to go elsewhere. Newcastle put a lot of time and effort into trying to sign Hugo Ekitike. He opted to go to Paris Saint-Germain instead.

“Eddie Howe wants a certain type of character, that’s the first thing he looks at and I think he feels in the area that they’re looking at now, which is the department and the striking winger, he doesn’t There aren’t many options that he would want to enter.

“He doesn’t want to bring anyone in for the fun of it, so you put it all together and I think it proves to be quite difficult. Their budget is probably around £80-90m.

“They’ve already spent around £55m in the form of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Targett, so they’ve already spent a hefty sum.

“They are trying to cope with Financial Fair Play regulations and as most clubs see it is difficult to add in this window, especially in the striker department.

“There is still money to spend and I expect them to make one, maybe two more signings before the end of the month.”

Has Newcastle’s pursuit of Maddison gone cold?

“Yeah, it is. Newcastle have made the two offers we have reported. It’s surprising, I have to say, because Maddison operates primarily in that No.10 role and since Howe’s arrival, his team plays a strict 4-3-3 formation.

“So it’s hard to see how Maddison will fit into this. Those two offers have been made, they’ve both been turned down, but I think a £50m offer would make Leicester sit up and go. reflect.

“Whether Newcastle can go with the budget I’ve already hinted at, I’m not too sure. I’d be surprised if he ends up in a Newcastle shirt at the end of this transfer window.”

What about Newcastle’s other targets?

“Moussa Diaby turned out to be too expensive and he decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.

“Maxwel Cornet, I think he was on the list as well, but of course he’s now signed for West Ham. I don’t think Newcastle wanted to pay the full £17.5m release clause. for him in advance, they would rather have paid that in instalments.

“Jack Harrison is another. From what I understand Newcastle were interested, but that was something Leeds didn’t want to entertain at all. Maybe that’s one they’re trying to revisit. .

“Eddie Howe has quite a long list in terms of goals. Further on, however, I think Newcastle could enter the loan market and obviously that would also help the financial situation.”