Eddie Howe has admitted that Newcastle United’s transfer plans are being “controlled” by the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), leaving the club unable to financially compete for top targets this summer.
Newcastle have endured a frustrating window, missing out on nearly ten players according to all reports that have popped up at some points throughout the summer, most glaringly Benjamin Sesko, who chose Manchester United despite a higher bid from St James’ Park at the last minute.
Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford, and Joao Pedro also slipped away, with most of the players Newcastle failed to land joining Premier League rivals, adding fuel to a fire already burning.
The situation is compounded by uncertainty around Alexander Isak, who is training away from the squad after expressing his desire to join Liverpool. The Magpies rejected a £110 million offer from the champions but are unwilling to sanction his sale until a replacement is secured.
“We’re controlled by PSR,” Howe said after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. “That’s still limiting what we can do, and that’s the reality. We’re not the highest payers in the league, far from it, and that is sometimes reflected in the choices players make.”
Howe stressed that Newcastle remains a “special place to be” but acknowledged that financial considerations often sway player decisions.
The manager also confirmed the obvious in publicly stating—just in case PIF went deaf—that the club still needs a new striker, if only a backup, following Callum Wilson’s departure, with Anthony Gordon’s ankle injury adding to the urgency just a week until the new season gets rolling.