Michael Bridges believes 'very big names' will arrive at Newcastle United this summer and players like James Ward-Prowse will no longer be on the the transfer 'wishlist'. The Magpies confirmed their return to the Champions League after an absence of two decades with a goalless home draw with Leicester City on Monday night.
Eddie Howe has stressed the need for the club to recruit smartly in the upcoming window to ensure he has two starting elevens of 'equal strength' to cope with a European campaign. Newcastle's owners have already invested in excess of £200 million into the playing squad since the takeover in October 2021, but a top-four finish ahead of schedule is expected to lead to another spending spree.
Ward-Prowse is among a host of Premier League stars to be linked with a St James' Park switch, and the Southampton star is likely to move following the club's relegation. However, former Magpies striker Bridges has suggested Newcastle will now be aiming higher on their summer shortlist, citing Leeds United's then-record £18 million move for Rio Ferdinand in 2000 as an example to follow.
READ MORE: Brighton CEO opens up on Dan Ashworth's Newcastle exit and how successor was already picked
He told the GegenPod Football Podcast: "It is so much easier to be able to go to a player and say will you come to this football club to play Champions League football. I was looking at the game a few weeks back when they played Southampton, and to think a player like Ward-Prowse was on the radar for Newcastle United, it would be an easy target to go and get someone like him now Southampton are going down.
"He's off the shopping list now, there's no chance. You're talking about people like Brozovic, people at Juventus like Vlahovic with the points deduction that they've just had. There's players available who will want to come and play, and it'll be an easier move to get a black-and-white shirt from Juve to Newcastle.
"Your clientele list has gone through the roof, and I remember thinking about being at Leeds United when we signed Rio Ferdinand when we got into the Champions League. That was an incredible move that blindsided all of the players that were here.
"It's going to be a very, very interesting summer and there's going to be some very big names. The names I keep hearing are Maddison, and Brozovic is another big name that is being bounded about as well."
READ NEXT
- Newcastle dressing room insider reveals how viral Jason Tindall storm has 'gone down a storm'
- Newcastle United transfer news LIVE
- The Newcastle United Champions League stat book that was left frozen in time
- Saudi company in running to become new Newcastle United sponsor as bidding process continues
- Newcastle United poach Leicester City member of staff for new academy role
