Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has warned there is no "bottomless pit" of Saudi money to spend in the summer transfer window - but insists the Magpies will be ready to do business.
The window swings open in early June but teams can set up deals before then. The Magpies know that the bar will be raised significantly this summer but unlike the last summer window, there is much more to attract big names.
Howe said: "Regardless of what happens we aren't going to have a bottomless pit. "We're going to be under tight constraints
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"Whatever we do in the transfer market we are going to be very smart. We're going to have to be as good as we have in the three transfer windows before it. In the three we've had we have been excellent."
Newcastle are expected to clear out a clutch of fringe players and some out of contract squad members will be leaving. Howe knows that big calls are to be made in the next few weeks.
Howe said: "I think as a manager you have to be ruthless at the times you need to be. There's time when you need to show loyalty, and back people. And there's also times when you need to make the decision that will benefit the club.
"I think I can wear all those hats when I need to. That is the challenge for me."
Newcastle's owners have been at the training ground in the last fortnight with a big push towards the next phase of the club's development set to unfold.
Howe added: "I invited Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad up to speak to the squad 10 days ago. Just to have that contact with the owners to be as one from top to bottom.
"They came in and were absolutely brilliant. It was a nice moment for everybody in the room to consolidate with each other and then focus on the games we had."
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