Eddie Howe inists Newcastle will NOT have a ‘bottomless pit’ of money to spend this summer
Eddie Howe insists Newcastle don’t have a ‘bottomless pit’ of money to spend even if they qualify for the Champions League – despite the £80m they will receive for a top four finish
- Newcastle qualifies for the Champions League with a draw against Leicester
- Eddie Howe says they will have to spend prudently despite potential additional revenue
- Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi spoke to the players this month
Eddie Howe says Newcastle don’t have a ‘bottomless pit’ of money to spend even if they qualify for the Champions League.
The Magpies only need a draw against Leicester at St James’ Park on Monday to ensure a top four finish and a cash boost of at least £80 million.
Sources say achieving that would mean a very different summer than they imagined given the extra resources and the need to strengthen the squad.
However, Howe insists the club will still be bound by financial spending restrictions.
“Whatever happens, we will not have a bottomless pit,” he said. “We will be under strict conditions. Whatever we do in the transfer market, we will have to be very smart. In the three transfer windows I’ve had, we’ve been excellent and we need to continue that.”
Eddie Howe says Newcastle will have to spend prudently despite potential additional revenue
The Magpies qualify for the Champions League with a draw against Leicester on Monday
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi were invited by Howe to address the players
Howe also says recruitment work will continue straight after next Sunday’s call-up at Chelsea.
“Unfortunately, yes, which means you’re on some kind of assembly line that you can’t get off,” he said. “Everyone will say, ‘That’s a great achievement,’ but all I can think about is that the next challenge is coming and I’m prepared for it.
“You can’t sit back and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to take a month off and relax on the beach.’ It’s the opposite – it’s, “OK, how can we best succeed in that next phase?”. You are always in a cycle of trying to improve.’
Howe, meanwhile, has revealed that earlier this month he invited the club’s co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi to speak with his players.
“It was just to have that contact with the owners because it’s so important that we as a club are one from head to toe,” he said. “They came in, talked to the players, they were absolutely brilliant.
“It was actually a nice moment for everyone in the room to consolidate their thoughts on each other and then focus on the last few games we had, and it had a positive impact on us.”