Newcastle would resist Premier League spending limits insists Howe

Saudi-backed Newcastle would RESIST further Premier League spending restrictions insists Eddie Howe – after Liverpool owner John Henry floated new spending proposal

• Howe believes spending restrictions would deny club ‘ability to improve quickly’ 
• Newcastle have already spent more than £215 since their takeover in 2021
• Henry thinks that current spending limits mean only one or two clubs dominate 

Eddie Howe says Newcastle would resist the proposal made by Liverpool owner John Henry to impose further Premier League spending restrictions.

The Anfield chief believes new limitations are needed to prevent the English league from going the same way as some European leagues, where one or two clubs dominate.

Newcastle, backed by a Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund worth £700billion, have already been frustrated by Financial Fair Play rules. They would have liked to spend more than the £215million invested over three transfer windows, especially amid their current struggle for goals.

Club-record signing Alexander Isak, at £60m from Real Sociedad last August, is still short of peak fitness, while Callum Wilson has one goal since October.

Howe and the club’s owners will look to strengthen attacking areas again this summer and, to that end, the head coach does not support Henry’s plan.

Magpies manager Eddie Howe wants his team to improve as quickly as possible

John Henry is in favour of greater spending limits to reduce a Premier League monopoly

‘I wouldn’t want to see any more restrictions on spending,’ said Howe. ‘We have spent money, don’t get me wrong, but future restrictions would certainly deny our ability to improve as quickly as we want to.’

Henry had told the Liverpool Echo: ‘There are ever-increasing financial challenges in the Premier League. The league itself is extraordinarily successful and is the greatest football competition in the world, but we’ve thought for some time there should be limits on spending so that the league doesn’t go the way of European leagues where one or two clubs annually have little competition.’

Newcastle have been praised for their success in the transfer market, assembling a new defence for £80m. With just 17 goals conceded, their backline remains the best in the division.

However, it is problems at the other end of the pitch which have stalled their progress and they have scored only three times since Boxing Day. Supporters are questioning why Isak has not been used more, especially with Wilson out of form.

Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and director Amanda Stavely were present at the club’s Carabao Cup final versus Manchester United

Howe, though, says the Sweden striker – who missed four months with a thigh injury – is still not where they want him to be in terms of readiness and that he lost momentum when suffering concussion in January.

‘Alex will decide that (when he starts) by how he performs,’ said Howe. ’It’s been about keeping him fit after his serious injury (thigh) and building his confidence levels and training levels, to the level he can play at. I feel he is there, but is he 100 per cent ready to play 90 minutes on a consistent basis? Probably not.

‘There was a week that he trained very well. He was excellent in everything he did and he got concussion the week after. That delayed his return to training for seven days.

‘Now, he’s building back to those levels. He’s in a great moment now to hopefully push on and really show all his qualities which, when you’re behind the scenes and you’re seeing it every day, let me tell you, he’s an outstanding talent. We know that we’ve got a great player for the future.’

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