Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (left) and Manchester United's Ruben Amorim
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (left) and Manchester United's Ruben Amorim
Chelsea don't want him, Manchester United are keen to sell him and Newcastle United will steer clear of him - so it is a surprise to see Jadon Sancho suddenly linked with the Magpies.
A report from the Sun on Thursday suggested Eddie Howe's side, along with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, were keen to offer the former England international an escape route as he ponders his next move after being shunned by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. You can file this one under extremely unlikely when it comes to Newcastle.
Eddie Howe's side are indeed in the market for a shiny new winger but need to ensure they are getting value for money. £25m for a player of Sancho's talent, on his day, isn't the most egregious demand - but the wages will prove tricky for any suitor this summer.
Sancho is reportedly on £300,000-a-week as part of his Manchester United deal and isn't expected to accept much of a pay cut as he seeks a loan move with his current terms over a permanent switch away. Even taking on half of the attacker's salary would prove difficult at St James' Park.
For Newcastle to sign a player who is going to become one of their top earners, they would want a permanent deal. Sancho is a player club chiefs are certainly aware of but have made no attempts to try and sign - either recently or in the past.
The former Borussia Dortmund winger falls into the same category as Jack Grealish. Another linked with a move to the north east this summer but a player who is badly out of form on eye-watering wages at Manchester City.
Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, two players who joined Aston Villa on loan last season, were also on mammoth wages before arriving at Villa Park. Two very costly loan deals for a club who failed to qualify for the Champions League.
Bringing in players of that nature, in deals that immediately look risky from the outside, would almost certainly lead to current Newcastle players beginning to eye wage increases of their own. This, after Newcastle have sought to carefully manage their wage structure in recent years.
The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon have all penned improved contracts, with bigger salaries, in recent years but the decision makers inside St James' Park have also ensured no player was streets ahead of another, while ensuring Newcastle's wage-to-turnover ratio was reduced to a more sustainable level.
Newcastle have more financial room to manoeuvre this summer, compared to this 12 months ago, but there is an understanding the north east outfit must not leave themselves short for the years to come. It is partly why club chiefs baulked at Bryan Mbeumo's eye-watering contract demands.
Howe's response, when asked directly about Grealish back in January, is worth remembering when these sorts of players are linked with a Tyneside switch. "Financially? [are we able to sign a player like that?]. I don't believe currently we are."
Treasure a season to remember
Newcastle United's 2024-25 campaign has to rank as one of the best in living memory. Not only did Eddie Howe's side qualify for the Champions League by securing fifth place in the Premier League, but they ended their long wait for silverware by winning the Carabao Cup
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