“They did not anticipate qualifying for the Champions League.”
Despite not daring to dream that they might be taking part in in Europe’s premier membership competitors subsequent season, that is precisely what Newcastle can be doing after securing a top-four end in opposition to Leicester on Monday Night Football.
Eddie Howe has guided the Magpies again into the Champions League group phases for the first time in 20 years in simply his first full season in cost at St James’ Park.
The achievement additionally is available in the Saudi house owners’ first full marketing campaign since shopping for the membership from Mike Ashley in October 2021, throughout which they’ve overseen a metamorphosis in the staff’s performances and the ambiance inside the stadium.
But Champions League qualification creates new challenges for Howe and Newcastle – first of which is how finest to equip the squad to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli.
With only one remaining sport to play this season – away to Chelsea on Sunday – Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie offers his verdict on what Newcastle followers can count on forward of a busy, but thrilling summer…
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Newcastle and Leicester
What does qualifying for the Champions League mean for Newcastle?
It will mean all the things for them.
If you ask anybody concerned, they’ll inform you it is forward of schedule. They didn’t anticipate qualifying for the Champions League. Eddie Howe was requested at the begin of the season what he wished to attain and he mentioned he simply did not wish to be concerned in a relegation battle.
Privately, he most likely wished a bit greater than that. I feel folks behind the scenes would have been more than pleased with a Europa League or Europa Conference League end.
It’s transferring the mission on faster than anticipated and you must simply roll with that. Obviously it adjustments a number of issues financially by way of the evolution of the membership.
You’re hardly going to show round and say no to the Champions League, are you? It’s testomony to the job Howe and his backroom workers have completed.
Does Champions League qualification alter Howe’s summer transfer window price range?
He’ll have extra to spend.
They had been crusing very near the wind when it got here to monetary truthful play (FFP) in January. They simply managed to signal Anthony Gordon and no extra.
It pushes again the FFP boundaries. It’s basically free prize cash they’re able to spend that they did not have earlier than.
You’ve then obtained the TV income they’ll spend, plus there’s going to be much more sponsorship alternatives. This will permit Howe to spend extra in the summer and enhance the squad greater than would have been the case.
It’s vastly totally different for them and an actual enhance.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Newcastle and Brighton
Does Newcastle’s present squad have the depth to compete in the Premier League and Champions League?
At the second, no. Howe’s requested the identical 15, 16 gamers to go once more, week after week this season. You can nearly get away with that when it is solely Premier League soccer you’re taking part in however for those who have a look at the gamers now, they’re drained.
There’s 5 or 6 gamers in that squad that have not actually contributed by way of minutes. You cannot have that in your 25-man squad for those who’re competing on two fronts.
What he wants is a powerful squad with a normal of participant that may play in the Champions League and Premier League.
You’re taking a look at 5 or 6 gamers in the summer. He wants one other centre-back. Jamaal Lascelles could go so that they want somebody to compete with Fabian Schar.
The precedence is a holding midfielder. They’re taking part in Bruno Guimaraes in there at the second however he desires to play additional ahead. They may additionally need a No 8, a box-to-box-type midfielder and one other centre-forward, as a result of they solely have Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak.
For Newcastle supporters looking forward to the transfer window, I feel it is an thrilling time. I do not suppose they are going to exit and spend £250-300m however I can see them shopping for one other three, 4 gamers of the customary of a Sven Botman or Kieran Trippier. Players round the £20-40m mark.
They know if they do not try this, the squad is way too skinny to compete in the Champions League and the Premier League.