Newcastle United co-owner Jamie Reuben has provided a revealing insight into how the club calculates their transfer budget based on data and character assessments. The Magpies owners have already invested in excess of £200 million into the playing squad since the takeover in October 2021, with another busy window expected this summer.
Eddie Howe's side defied pre-season predictions to secure a top-four finish as well as reach the club's first domestic final for 24 years. The Newcastle head coach has stressed the need for 'elite' recruits in the upcoming window, explaining he would like two starting elevens capable to cope with the impact of Champions League nights on the schedule.
The Magpies have already been linked with a host of exciting additions, with James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai among the names currently under consideration. Reuben was asked about how the board determine how much to spend in each window, and the businessman outlined the process while also hailing chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan's impact in elevating the importance of data in the decision-making process.
He told the Business of Sport podcast: "It is quite a detailed procedure. First of all, we have amazing executives at the club that will outline weaknesses and strengths, and things we need to work on, and things we need to add.
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"Then they'll provide a list of possible recruitment candidates in different positions, and then as a board we'll take a decision to strengthen x amount in x areas this year. You don't have totally revamp your squad every year, the idea is to bring some key players and continue to improve your team, but also to improve the players you have as well which our coach has done fantastically.
"It's quite a strategic procedure, a lot of things on data science and a lot of data behind not only players you're looking at, but also what your team is doing at the moment. Our footballing team will have detailed conversations before it gets to the board about which areas they think they can strengthen, possible targets they like, and they will all be backed up by the data.
"Our chairman of the team Yasir is probably the most data-driven individual you have ever met, he really has instilled into this club a discipline of getting all of the facts and all of the data first, and I've learnt a lot from that. We see an incredible amount of data, more than I've ever seen in any other business."
It is not simply a matter of pursuing targets based on the numbers though. The character requirements Newcastle seek in possible signings is now well-known, and Reuben has emphasised the importance of this human element alongside the data in the club's approach.
Reuben added: "It's been a hard process, but something we've put first. I think that is something which could potentially give us an edge, and I think it's very important. Data gets you so far, the character of the player has to fit into the dynamic of the dressing room, Eddie Howe is very particular about the type of player he brings in.
"They must fight for the team, they must be a team player, and so we have a bunch of amazing characters. That really helps us, they work tirelessly, they give everything on the pitch and they love the city and they love the club.
"Data is so important but also the character of the individual is as well. You don't want to upset the dressing room or change the dynamic, so you have to be very particular about the character you bring in. It's something I've learnt, and something I really respect and appreciate now."
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