Eddie Howe admits he'd love a 'marquee' signing this summer

Eddie Howe admits he’d love a ‘marquee’ signing this summer as Newcastle set for £100m spending spree…but insists it has to be right player for the right position as the Magpies prepare for a return to the Champions League

  • Eddie Howe keen to keep his squad together following their top four finish 
  • The Newcastle boss hasn’t ruled out a marquee signing for the club this summer
  • The Magpies could spend in excess of £100m to strengthen the playing squad  

Eddie Howe hopes Champions League qualification will protect Newcastle against their star players being sold – and says he would love to add some ‘marquee’ signings this summer.

The Saudi-owned club are set for a cash boost of up to £80million after securing a top-four finish last week and will likely spend in excess of £100m strengthening their squad for Europe’s top competition.

Howe has a vision of the players he wants, but just as important for the head coach is warding off interest in the likes of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who will be rewarded with a new contract before next season.

‘I’d love to keep the squad together this summer – if we can strengthen rather than weaken,’ said Howe. 

‘Dan (Ashworth) has made the point to me about trading being an important part of our future. That does not necessarily mean selling your best players, but trading with FFP rules can be a good thing for your finances.

Eddie Howe is keen to keep his squad together after securing Champions League football 

The Newcastle players celebrate the point the saw them confirm their top four finish 

‘The club will also be very keen to protect their assets and be ahead of the curve in terms of contract length and make sure we’re in a strong position, but also recognising players who have done well and rewarding them for their performances.’

Howe will hold transfer meetings with the owners in the coming days and will present his case for securing the maximum budget possible, especially as he feels the squad is too light in keys areas such as midfield. Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Nice’s Khephren Thuram are both targets.

‘Unfortunately, players don’t come cheap, especially good players,’ he said. ‘We are going to have to spend a certain amount of money. How much that is I don’t know. I still don’t know what my budget is at this moment in time, but there will have to be some expenditure.

‘It will have to be controlled. It will have to be under FFP restrictions. They are definitely impacting us and what we will be able to do. But I have a vision of what I want to do with the team and what I think we need. I can put my point across in my own way without being forceful.’

Will there be scope for a marquee signing?

Man Utd’s Scott McTominay is one of the names who has been linked with a move to Newcastle

The Newcastle owners will have to navigate around FFP with any ‘marquee’ signing for the club

‘Yes, there would be players we’d love to bring in that would be classified in that bracket, I’m sure,’ he said.

‘For me, it’s more about the role they can fulfil in the team, whether that’s viewed positively or as a marquee signing then great. I’m not in my mind thinking, “We have to have one of those players that ticks that box for the supporters”. As much as I’d love to do that, it’s about finding the right player in the right position who I think makes us better.

‘The Champions League makes us more attractive and desirable to players, to a point. But we have challenges ahead, it’s not as easy as everyone thinks to navigate the transfer market. 

There is always a bump in the road you’ve got to navigate yourself around, so it’s not going to be a slam dunk. This will be our hardest window to date. In my mind, there is no doubt about that because the pool of players we have to select from is very small.’

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