Simon Jordan has claimed that Newcastle United will not go under the radar in the summer transfer window despite Eddie Howe’s claim that Financial Fair Play (FFP) will severely limit their spending. Many are expecting more of the same from the Magpies on the back of their £90m January spending spree.
However, it isn’t as easy as that as the profit and sustainability rules in place in the Premier League limit the amount of on-field investment. Just over a week ago, Howe admitted that FFP will affect the business done over the summer but claimed the club will still show ambition.
Facing questions in talkSPORT’s ‘One-2-One’, Jordan was asked whether United might go under the radar. But he doesn’t believe, with the media fanfare that will surround the club’s transfer business and the demand for investment, that it is even possible.
Read more: Eddie Howe drops hint on Newcastle United's summer spending plans and insists there is 'ambition'
“Newcastle can’t go under the radar,” claimed the former Crystal Palace owner. “They might want to spin a yarn that they’re not going to spend any money, it’s already come out through the press that Newcastle’s budget for next year is £60m.
“You can argue that they spent £93m in the January transfer window so £60m in the summer is not a particularly large amount of money to back up the demands of a football club that’s been bought to be successful. It hasn’t been bought by these people of immense wealth to tread water so, will they travel under the radar? I don’t think they can.”
The expectation that comes with a big-money takeover is often hard to negotiate, especially when the short-term plan is to maintain a large proportion of the playing staff. Finding a balance between adequately improving the squad as well as keeping the harmony is extremely tough and certainly cannot be done overnight.
“There is so much expectation on them, there is so much demanded of them by sections of the media, by their own fanbase, the manager will have some understanding of the fact he’s going to be supported so I don’t think it’s possible for Newcastle to travel under the radar,” added Jordan. “Of course, their actions will determine whether they travel under the radar because, if they turn out to not be free-spending, Premier League busting Newcastle United, they will - by the very nature of their actions - suppress the expectation and put them beneath the radar but that’s not what they’re here for.
“These guys that have got this amount of money - that buying a football club for £300m falls out of their pockets on the way to the game - are here to build an influential football club, to perpetuate whatever influence they want by owning this club. The way to do that is by having a successful club and the way that you have a successful club is by spending lots of money.”
