Newcastle may have already passed the peak of their initial post-takeover restructuring phase, says The Athletic’s Chris Waugh.
According to the insider, huge changes are coming in the upcoming transfer window as long as club financials allow for it.
Ideally, a broader squad refresh would have happened sooner, but restrictions tied to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have prevented it, per Waugh.
“For myriad reasons, mostly linked to constraints relating to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), that has not been possible,” Waugh wrote. “And it could be argued that with ageing players in key positions, and no upgrade at right-wing or right-sided centre-back across seven windows, Newcastle have reached their height and already started to regress.”
While the club could still qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup this season, Waugh says progress has not been linear and that has hurt the team a bit. The squad has lacked consistency and, in some areas, even depth, issues that, however, should be addressed shortly.
Looking ahead to the summer, Waugh expects “widespread squad surgery,” with Newcastle expected to upgrade the right-wing and right-sided center-back positions, while also adding depth at goalkeeper, full-back, striker, and midfield, per Waugh.
He also notes that sales are likely in order to help finance the rebuild, albeit they won't involve any of the star players.
“Newcastle insist they had no choice but to be financially prudent in January, so that they can retain as large a budget as possible for the summer,” Waugh wrote. “Yet failing to strengthen the first XI for three successive windows also places greater focus on a solitary off-season, whereby Newcastle must do significant and wide-ranging business to progress.”
Waugh added that the deeper the squad overhaul, the harder will be to complete it successfully in a short time frame if only because of the constant shuffling of players in and out the rotation.