Two West Ham players have been tipped for possible moves to Newcastle United by a confidant of Magpies manager Eddie Howe.
West Ham and Newcastle are at two very different ends of the PSR spectrum this summer.
The Hammers, while not facing any punishment or sanctions, are at their limit in terms of spending and wages vs income and turnover.
While West Ham were spending freely in recent seasons – including £155m on nine players last summer – Newcastle were having to cut their cloth for PSR despite having the richest owners of any sporting institution on the planet.
Now the roles have been reversed and the Magpies can finally start flexing their financial muscle more while the Hammers must sell to buy this summer.
PSR role reversal for West Ham and Newcastle
West Ham’s situation is made all the more difficult by the fact the club must perform a major rebuild off the back of a dismal 18 months in which the club won just 15 of their 57 Premier League matches.
Graham Potter wants to trim down his squad and raise the quality while lowering the age.
In order to do that West Ham must offload players with the club banking on selling the likes of Mohammed Kudus and – if cleared of spot-fixing charges – Lucas Paqueta, to name but two.
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At St James’ Park, it is more a case of fine tuning Newcastle’s squad for Eddie Howe.
With Paul Mitchell lasting even less time than his West Ham equivalent Tim Steidten, Howe’s influence on transfers is back to being undisputed.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Now a leading Newcastle journalist close to Howe has tipped the Magpies to come knocking for a top Hammers duo.
But while one looks viable, the other has been labelled “hard to do.”
Back in April it was claimed the Newcastle are planning a £70m offer to sign Kudus from West Ham this summer.
Howe wants to strengthen his side ready for their return to the Champions League and reportedly sees Kudus as a player who can thrive in his swashbuckling Newcastle team.
Howe confidant tips West Ham duo for Newcastle moves
It was confirmed well over a year ago that Kudus has an £85m release clause in his West Ham contract.
Newcastle would not necessarily have to pay that, though, because the clause was inserted at Kudus’ request as a mechanism to prevent West Ham’s board from blocking a move.
The clause is something of a red herring because West Ham can accept whatever fee they see fit for Kudus from Newcastle with money needed as soon as possible so the Hammers can, in the words of the club’s owners, ‘start trading’.
West Ham issued a major update on Kudus’ future last week, confirming three Premier League clubs have registered an interest in him.
Now The Telegraph’s northern football writer Luke Edwards has touted Kudus and one of his Hammers teammates to sign for Newcastle.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Kudus touted as Newcastle’s interest in ‘hard to do’ Bowen deal confirmed
Edwards is among the top reporters on Newcastle.
And he has suggested Newcastle moving for Kudus should be one to watch.
Edwards has also stated Howe loves Jarrod Bowen and confirmed he did indeed want him last year.
But he says that deal is ‘a hard one to do’.
“A player I like and think Newcastle should be looking into signing is Kudus at West Ham,” Edwards said.
“I think he would be great in an Eddie Howe team.
“They have liked Bowen for ages. I reported as much last summer but (a deal is) very, very expensive and he’s settled with family in Essex.
“Hard to do but would be a wonderful signing.”
Kudus to Newcastle makes perfect sense in many ways.
The Magpies can give the Ghanaian Champions League football and he would be able to play in his best position off the right at St James’ Park.
West Ham have Bowen there, meaning Kudus is often shunted out of position. Many have cited that as a reason for his quieter second season after 20 goals and assists in his debut campaign.
As for Bowen, Newcastle were indeed circling for West Ham’s talismanic captain last summer.
But the Magpies got a definitive answer from West Ham’s main man Bowen.
That’s because amid rumours of a mega bid from Howe, the West Ham star went out and bought a £3m Essex pad with then fiancee – and now wife – Dani Dyer, the daughter of Hammers fanatic hardman actor Danny Dyer.
West Ham have insisted Bowen is not for sale this summer.
Every player has his price – but as Edwards points out – Bowen’s would be very expensive.