· 26 May 2025, 13:30
**Newcastle United are in a far better financial position this year than they were last, with plenty of transfer activity expected over the coming months.**
The Magpies have failed to strengthen the first team in any meaningful way for three consecutive transfer windows now, but thanks to playing the long game, Newcastle are much better equipped for this summer's transfer window and are expected to spend big.
While the outlay of money could be impressive, however, Newcastle need to find several top-quality players to add to their squad, so we shouldn't be expecting any 'marquee' signings along the lines of when Alan Shearer joined his boyhood club for a world-record £15 million.
That was the example put to Howe when he was asked about making 'statement' signings this summer when speaking to the media after yesterday's game.
Eddie Howe rules out signing 'established' stars
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Howe downplayed the idea of signing huge stars as, as good as Newcastle's finances are this year, they're still operating under strict guidelines.
> “If you’re talking about someone at the very top, who is already established, then I think the wages and the financial package becomes difficult for us,” said Howe. “That’s me speaking honestly, as much as we might want it.“Of course, it’s much easier for me to bring in a ready-made, established, world-class player, but I don't think we've done that since I've been here because we haven't been able to financially.
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> “We’re not in the position of some of the other clubs, we have to bring them in and then try to make them into that. I still don’t envisage that changing because of the PSR restraints on us.”
If we can repeat what we've done with Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali, we'll be happy
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Newcastle's recruitment policy under the PIF has always been to find young players with huge potential to turn into future stars.
Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak definitely fit that bill, although you could argue that the former's reputation in Italy already had him at 'star' status.
If we can repeat what we've done with those two players, though, we'd be laughing.
We would have included Anthony Gordon in this, but more on him later.