Newcastle’s life changed forever on October 7. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) bought for 320 million euros a historic club that had been adrift for years. Fans celebrated in the outskirts of St James’ Park the end of the Mike Ashley era and the arrival of a fund with assets worth more than 400,000 kilos controlled by the Saudi Royal Family, in which Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman owns a fortune of 380,000 million.
Dizzying numbers that made Newcastle the richest team in the world. A threat to the rest of the coconuts, who temporarily blocked the signing of new sponsorship contracts. The ‘magpies’ wanted to fly high … but January was far away. There were still three months until the market opened and they had to survive.
As investors, it would have been easier to wait after the winter market to see where the club was. The risk of going down exists
The bad sports situation took away the euphoria. Neither Yasir Al-Rumayyan – governor of a PIF that controls 80% of the club – nor Amanday Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners (10%) nor the Reuben brothers’ RB Sports & Media (10%) could score the goals that they will draw from below.
“As investors, it would have been easier to wait after the winter market to see where the club was. The risk of going down is there,” Staveley said. The firing of Steve Bruce and the arrival of Eddie Howe they were the only changes for a struggling Newcastle. They are second to last and have only won one game (1-0 at Burnley) in 19 days. With 11 points, they are two of the salvation that marks a Watford that has a duel less. They need to sign.
How much can they spend?
Chelsea, City and PSG started investing without hindrance, but the rules have changed. “We have to move within the Financial Fair Play (FPF) and in the long term“Staveley declared. But his plan has been modified.
The owners did not plan to make big signings in January, but the situation has forced them
“The owners weren’t planning on making big signings in January. It is a difficult window, you do not always get a good value for money, but the situation has forced them “, he says. Ciaran Kelly, del ‘Chronicle Live’: “They’ve been working tirelessly over the last few weeks to set goals, talking to agents and analyzing which players are the right ones.”
Who is in charge of signing at Newcastle?
Still immersed in the search for a sports director, the three people who make all football decisions – Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben – have hired Nick Hammond – former Reading and Celtic football manager – as a consultant for this soccer market. winter so that, together with Chief of Recruitment Steve Nickson, spend the millions sauds.
Having defined the positions to reinforce -offensive side, central with good ball output and ‘box to box’- now the numbers must square. “Within the Financial Fair Play, they can have losses of 120 million in three years. In the last three they have had 45 of benefit and have invested 58 in infrastructures such as academia, which are exempt from the FPF. They will not be able to sign without limits, but they will have margin “, Explain Kieran Maguire, professor and head of the economic portal ‘Price of Football’.
According to his calculations, Newcastle will have 220 ‘kilos’ to spend on transfers immediately, although they could be more, since the transfers are distributed throughout the contract years. And if they increase their commercial income – they grew only 5% with Ashley in 14 years, according to Maguire – the margin will be even higher.
Who are they going to sign?
Defensive problems have weighed down Newcastle. They are, along with bottom Norwich, the team with the most goals in the Premier (42 goals). A hole through which 19 points have escaped! after getting ahead. Therefore, the first to become Trippier for 30 million, just like inform MARCA. The right back of the Atltico is Howe’s big request.
The English could be joined by the Dutch central Botman (Lille) for 36. And for the middle, ‘re-fishing’ Wijnaldum (PSG) It is the dream of a club that has injured Wilson and Saint-Maximin and that could sign on offense. There appear Aubameyang, Dembl, Lingard, Martial, Alli, Coutinho … “If we brought all the players who have played, we would have 1,000”, confesses Howe.
They must design a strategy that is attractive to attract the best. They should not sign erratic or declining players. They must launch a message to the market
“In this first phase, due to their status, they can only buy players of a good level, but they must design a strategy that is attractive to attract the best. They must not sign erratic or declining players. They must send a message to the market”, topunta Marcelino Elena, ex del Newcastle y director de Spanish Football Sports Agency: “Some will risk going down to Second for joining a project with money. Newcastle, if they make the right additions, can save themselves. ”
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