Newcastle United legend Lee Clark says that Aston Villa have thrown the gauntlet down with a mightly impressive start to the summer transfer window.
The former Magpies star has watched on in admiration after Steven Gerrard flew to both France and Spain to seal deals for two players in Ligue 1 and La Liga to get the second city club off to a great start. Clark expects big business on Tyneside too, but feels Villa have "set the tone".
Clark told Chronicle Live: "I think fans are just excited to see what happens now in the transfer market. "We have seen it already, Aston Villa have set the tone.
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"They have got out the traps quickly and made some big signings in Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho coming in on a permanent deal. "Those are big signings, a big statement.
"It just says that they want to be up there and want to try to be part of the big six or seven. "Villa are backing Steven Gerrard and he wants to change things at Villa Park.
"Getting Diego Carlos was a bit of a blow for Newcastle because I know he was certainly on the radar in January. "They could not agree a fee then, but Villa have signed quality so far."
Newcastle could easily bring in up to five signings while outgoing business could see Dwight Gayle, Ciaran Clark, Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie and Isaac Hayden leave the club. Clark knows how the good times roll on Tyneside and managed to stay on board while mixing with international aces like David Ginola, Alan Shearer and Tino Asprilla to name but a few.
Clark added: "This is an important summer for Newcastle. "They want to carry on the feel-good factor but let's be fair as well, the squad that they had was good enough to be in the top four or five of the Premier League on form in 2022.
"The points ratio says that. "Do that over the course of a season and you are in the top eight and touching a Europa League Conference slot. Now do they want to get into the next bracket of clubs? "That's the big questions.
"I do see a few outgoings too. "There are so many that didn't get game-time last season and will be concerned about next season. The turnover is only natural but there will be a few under contract that get chances to go elsewhere and they will want to take it up."
