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Newcastle United facing £10m transfer reality after huge 'pot of money' verdict

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
-Credit:Getty Images


In an ideal world, a club competing at the top end of the biggest and most competitive league in the world would be able to strengthen their squad with a player or two. However, that is not the reality Newcastle United find themselves in.

Instead, it is again looking like another trading period where big-name players, capable of transforming Eddie Howe's starting XI, cannot be pursued. This, despite the St James' Park chief hoping to be active this month.

The Magpies have made no secret of their need for outgoings before any shiny new signings arrive. We are all aware of the club's financial situation and how close they came to falling foul of profit and sustainability rules [PSR] last term.

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Those aforementioned outgoings are beginning to materialise with Miguel Almiron on the cusp of departing in an emotional return to former club Atlanta United.

Newcastle are hopeful of receiving £10m for the wide man, now seen as backup under Howe, and will happily bank that eight-figures into their kitty. However, the reality is that likely won't be enough to reinvest this month given the calibre of targets eyed as potential replacements for the departing Paraguayan.

Newcastle are stuck in many ways. Firstly, the same problem from last summer remains in that they do not have a vast amount of 'sellable' assets in their side. Of course, there are superstars in their ranks but Howe - and the fanbase - does not want to see them go.

That leaves just a select few players who are currently fighting for a starting spot in Howe's side and could realistically earn more than Almiron upon leaving. It's the likes of Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Lloyd Kelly and Sean Longstaff who fall into this category.

And while the aforementioned quartet may not be enjoying the most game time at present, there is no desire from Howe's end to lose any of them.

“We have to work together to make the right decisions, for the here and now and the future. We will try to do that together and that’s the best way, with teamwork and consultation," the head coach said on Friday.

“But I will make this clear - no-one wants to lose any players from our current squad, especially in positions where we are a little bit fragile. Why would we want to leave ourselves in that position?

All that means Newcastle are a little bit stuck until the summer, when the new three-year PSR period will see a £73m loss from 2022 wiped from their balance sheet. Can the Magpies really afford to wait that long to strengthen with a Champions League push unfolding?

"There's not a pot of money there waiting to be spent," Howe added over the weekend. "It is all about June 30 and making sure you comply by [the profit and sustainability regulations] that date. Obviously if you spend money, then you have to recoup it at a later date."

Almiron's exit will loosen the purse strings but the overwhelming feeling coming out of St James' Park is that it will the summer - and not this month - that we see huge moves for the Tyneside outfit.