EXCLUSIVE: Former Newcastle United star, Nicky Butt, has opened up on a turbulent summer transfer window on Tyneside, while explaining why the Magpies have struggled to land their key targets
Eddie Howe looks puzzled
Eddie Howe has failed to recruit many of his transfer targets this summer(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Nicky Butt believes that Newcastle United's lacklustre transfer window is down to a combination of Profit and Sustainability Rules and a lack of city appeal.
The Magpies have had a tumultuous summer in trying to bolster their squad for a fresh Premier League season, seeing top targets like Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, Liam Delap, James Trafford and Benjamin Sesko all settle elsewhere. And while United have managed to secure the likes of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest in a £55million move and Malick Thiaw from AC Milan for £34.5m, many fans will be frustrated by the ones who got away.
That's especially considering that Newcastle will face many of their would-be stars this season when they play the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City. While Eddie Howe has complained that strict PSR regulations are "controlling" his side's ability to compete in the current window, Butt believes that there's another factor in play which may not sit well with the die-hard Toon Army.
Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Live via BetMGM, the midfielder, who played at St. James' Park between 2004 and 2010, said: "I think PSR will definitely come into play, and I think Eddie's such an experienced man, experienced manager and coach, he wouldn't put things out there that he's going to get thrown back in his face as lies.
"That'll be definitely a big part of it, but I think the thing with Newcastle is, until you're in the club, and unless you know about it…So I knew about it playing against them in the good old days, I knew what a big club it was, and how passionate the supporters were, and when I was going there I knew all about the football club.
"But some of the players don't know. They don't know how big a football club it is, don't know it's a one-club city, they don't really understand the dynamics of the demographic up there, and obviously it's not London. It's not one of the so-called shining light cities.
"Even though it's a city, it's not in that kind of elk. It's tough to get. Manchester had a bit for a long time to try to get players from London to Manchester United, it was tough because it wasn't the glamorous city that it probably is a bit better than it is now.
Nicky Butt speaks to Aaron Morris
Nicky Butt has explained what's going wrong for Newcastle United
“I think Newcastle are finding that and it's sad. You have to throw something at these players to make it more attractive, which is, you know, more money for some of the players, they get turned on by that. Obviously they're in Europe, in the Champions League and stuff now, so that helps."
Butt also believes that Newcastle will be able to attract players who aren't just in it for a big payday, and that the club will be able to secure stars who genuinely want to play for Newcastle for their love of football. He added: "But yeah, you have to try and get the right ones that want to be there, and I think the ones you lose anyway, in the long run you're better off losing them, because if they don't want to come up for other than football reason than playing for a football club...
"Yes I understand there's finances being involved, because no one's going to go to work at the building site down there for five hundred quid when they can and go and build this out there for five grand. You've got a family to look after, and you've got the rest of your life, so I get finances coming into play, but you've really got to want to play for a football club."
It comes as the Magpies struggled in terms of strike force as a fresh Premier League season got underway on Saturday. Anthony Gordon was deployed as a makeshift No.9 against Aston Villa, as a result of Alexander Isak's ongoing transfer saga.
Alexander Isak looks on as he arrives
Alexander Isak could be on the move(Image: PA)
While many fans will be happy with a point on the board following a goalless draw at Villa Park, others will hope to see Howe and the board get a wriggle on with regards to securing a replacement for the unsettled Swede, especially given Gordon's lack of an impact.
Newcastle have been linked with a £60m move for Brentford's Yoane Wissa as of late, with the centre-forward indicating that he is incredibly open to a move to Tyneside. However, sources at the Bees have claimed that they will not let him leave unless they can find a suitable replacement.
While the club has also shown an interest in Paris Saint-Germain talisman, Goncalo Ramos, the striker has insisted that he will remain at the Parc des Princes this summer, with the Magpies now having to look elsewhere.
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