Eddie Howe says he will have to be creative in the transfer window due to Financial Fair Play

Eddie Howe insists Saudi-backed Newcastle do not have ‘vast sums’ to spend this summer… as Magpies boss targets a striker with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Darwin Nunez, Ivan Toney and Patrick Bamford on his radar

  • Howe says his spending this summer will be restricted by Financial Fair Play 
  • Saudi-backed owners have injected £167m into the club since £305m takeover
  • Newcastle also spent £94m on five new players in the January transfer window

Eddie Howe says it is ‘wrong’ to assume Newcastle United have vast riches to spend this summer and knows he may have to be creative in the transfer market.

The club’s accounts revealed this week that their Saudi-backed owners have injected £167million to cover various costs since October’s £305m takeover.

Given they also spent £94m on five new players in January, it has impacted on Newcastle’s transfer budget from the perspective of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

Eddie Howe says he will have to be creative in the transfer window due to Financial Fair Play

Eddie Howe says he will have to be creative in the transfer window due to Financial Fair Play

Sources are talking of around £60m plus player sales being available – with a striker the priority – but they say no deals are close and a degree of ‘trading’ should be expected.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on the list of forward targets and his representative was in attendance for the recent 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool. However, it is thought other options will first be explored with doubts among some over the 25-year-old’s form and fitness this season.

Benfica’s Darwin Nunez has been spoken about at length and would appear to be high on the wishlist, although asking price and competition for the Uruguayan’s signature would be a concern.

Saudi-backed owners have injected £167m to cover costs since October¿s £305m takeover

Saudi-backed owners have injected £167m to cover costs since October’s £305m takeover

Were Leeds to be relegated then Patrick Bamford’s name could enter discussions, but his injury record this term has also been noted.

Brentford’s Ivan Toney is another on their radar, while a renewed move to sign Reims teenager Hugo Ekitike is likely.

But Howe said: ‘Because of Financial Fair Play, there has to be realistic expectations on what we can spend. Our income at the moment, as a football club, isn’t as big as we want it to be in the future, so that impacts our ability to spend. For those people that think it’s a vast sum of money, well, it’s wrong.

Newcastle are among the clubs interested in Benfica hotshot Darwin Nunez (left)

Newcastle are among the clubs interested in Benfica hotshot Darwin Nunez (left)

‘It doesn’t mean we can’t improve the squad, but it’ll have to be bit by bit. It can’t be an overnight thing, and that’s due to the fact we need to expand revenue streams.’

Howe added: ‘I’ve always had the mindset that you’ve got to be creative and not moan or whinge at what you’re given. At Bournemouth we were under a transfer embargo, so had a decision to make – do you walk off or do you go, “OK, we’ve got a transfer embargo, how do we get the best out of the players we’ve got, and when can we sign players?”.

‘I’ve always had the mindest of getting the best out of what we have and find a way to be successful with it.’

Everton¿s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left) is also on list of forward targets for the Magpies boss

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left) is also on list of forward targets for the Magpies boss

Asked what would be a realistic target for Newcastle next season – they are currently 12th – Howe said: ‘It’s difficult to set targets. I’d love to do well in the cup competitions, we will take them seriously next year.

‘But improvement is key, and I know that’s not a line you necessarily want to hear, you want to hear a headline answer, but I can’t give you that.

‘We took over a team that was in a really difficult position. January was important and we’ve improved the squad, we need to improve the squad again, we can’t stand still.

‘But we’re completing in a league that is so difficult, we have no divine right to finish above anybody. We have to earn that.’

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