Newcastle are set for another spending spree in the summer transfer window with four 'elite' players eyed by the club's Saudi Arabian owners.
The Magpies have already coughed up around £250million on new players since the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners, and the Reuben Brothers took over in October 2021.
Bruno Guimaraes was the Magpies' most expensive buy in January 2022 when he made the £37m move from Lyon in an attempt to keep the club in the Premier League. Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett were amongst the other arrivals who helped preserve Newcastle's top-flight status.
The new owners' first summer in charge proved to be a costly but successful one. Alexander Isak became their record signing in a £62million switch from Real Sociedad, while Sven Botman and Nick Pope also joined as Howe bolstered his Magpies squad.
Anthony Gordon proved to be Newcastle's only first-team addition in the recent January window as Newcastle keep in line with Financial Fair Play regulations - and that hasn't stopped them from challenging for a Champions League spot this season. They currently sit fourth, three points ahead of Tottenham with a game in hand.
Now, according to the Telegraph, Newcastle are planning another busy summer with four key signings planned ahead of the start of the 2023/24 campaign. The Magpies are all but set to compete in Europe next term, although it is yet to be decided which competition they will be participating in.
The Saudi-based owners were initially expected to be more patient this summer and work with a modest budget of around £20m plus any player sales. But they have been convinced to accelerate their plans and spend bigger following Newcastle's impressive season under Howe and his coaching staff.
It is understood Declan Rice, James Maddison and Ivan Toney are being discussed as potential targets in a fresh approach from the Magpies hierarchy. Rice has also been linked with a move to Arsenal but could be lured to the North East should Newcastle achieve Champions League football.
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Maddison, meanwhile, is set to leave Leicester in the summer, and, with just one year left on his contract, could be available for a much cheaper price. Tottenham have also been mentioned as a potential destination for Maddison as he gets set to depart the King Power Stadium after five years at the club.
A St James' Park return for Toney, however, would be sensational given the circumstances he left Newcastle just seven years ago, having made just four appearances during his short time at the club. Since, the Brentford ace has been on an upward trajectory and could be in line for a move, having scored 16 top-flight goals this season.
The Magpies' transfer dealings will no doubt depend on where they finish this season. They suffered a rare setback in their pursuit of a top-four place on Saturday as they were thrashed 3-0 at Aston Villa. A brace from Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey's strike condemned Newcastle to their first defeat in six matches.
