Eddie Howe is against Liverpool owner John Henry's call for further spending limits because the restrictions would prevent Newcastle United from 'improving as quickly as we want to'.
In an interview with our sister title, the Liverpool Echo, this week, Henry stated there should be additional limits on spending in the Premier League so the top-flight 'does not go the way of European leagues where one or two clubs annually have little competition'. Henry made his comments during a campaign where Liverpool have suffered defeats against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Brighton, Wolves and others after finishing second with 92 points last season.
In fact, this has been an especially competitive season. Not only are Liverpool only a point clear of Newcastle in fifth place, having played a game more, but Arsenal are in pole position to win the title for the first time since 2004 while Fulham, Brighton and Brentford are all above Chelsea in the table at the moment.
READ MORE: Everything Eddie Howe said on Wolves, injuries and Bruno's contract at Newcastle press conference
Given how Henry was previously a leading supporter of the European Super League, pundit Gary Neville felt the Liverpool owner's proposal would be just another way for the 'established elite' to 'lock in their positions'. After all, Newcastle and their fellow Premier League clubs are already limited by the league's profit and sustainability rules - the top-flight charged Man City with more than 100 alleged breaches last month - and Howe made his position clear on any further restrictions on Friday.
"I wouldn't want to see any more restrictions on spending," he told reporters. "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."
Newcastle have spent more than a quarter of a billion pounds on new players since the takeover in October, 2021, but the regulations in place prevent the Magpies' wealthy owners from spending even more in a short space of time as the PIF have with, say, LIV Golf.
These restrictions will continue to hamper Newcastle until the club dramatically boost revenue streams, which will take time, and Howe admitted last week that FFP will 'always be a short-term big issue for us'. Yet there is no doubt that Newcastle are emerging as a force and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said just last month that the 'financial possibilities they will have in the future are exceptional'.
Newcastle are already well ahead of schedule, but qualifying for the Champions League would certainly be a game-changer. Not only would life at Europe's top table help Newcastle attract players, it would also bring in qualification fees, prize money and gate receipts. Playing in the Champions League would open additional doors commercially when it comes to justifying lucrative sponsorship deals are of fair market value, too.
So can Newcastle do it? Well, Newcastle are currently sixth in the table, after winning just one of their last eight league games, but the Magpies are still only four points off Spurs in fourth place having played two games fewer. Defeating Wolves at St James' on Sunday could yet change the momentum of the whole campaign going into the final 13 matches of the season.
"There is a belief that we can win again and we need to very quickly to fulfil that aim," Howe added. "I have never sat here and talked us up in terms of targets or top four, but I have talked us up in terms of what I believe we can achieve and the quality we have in our group, and I am not going to change now.
"Through every season there are difficult moments and patches where maybe you don’t win the games that you should for some reason and sometimes you win games you shouldn't. We are in that first moment and that is the time you have to be really strong mentally and know it will change.
"You draw on experience all the time. This has been slightly different because we have had cup games in the middle of two really tough league games and the general performances have been very strong. It is not like we are scratching around thinking we are in a really dark place here."
READ NEXT
Richarlison turns the air blue as Newcastle are given hope by Spurs after furious reaction
Newcastle may have found FFP solution to save millions who is 'one of the top guys around'
Liverpool owner calls on Premier League to bring in 'limits on spending' amid Newcastle threat
Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City players' 'annoying' Newcastle stadium admission crowd will love
Stadium mastermind gives Newcastle expansion hope after previous 60,000-seater and hotel plan
