Mike Ashley Newcastle United
Newcastle United have defended their summer transfer activity after a move for Hamza Choudhury broke down on deadline day. The club have refuted claims they are not investing in the squad available to Steve Bruce, after only one player was signed over the course of the summer transfer window, £25m midfielder Joe Willock. Newcastle had sought to organise a loan for Leicester City midfielder Choudhury, just as they had in January, but despite talks going on late into deadline day, an agreement could not be reached. Reports suggested City had tried to compromise on Choudhury’s wages and on a loan fee in order to help get the move across the line, but a deal never materialised. After a fan backlash over the perceived lack of investment at St James Park, Newcastle set out their stall in a statement on Friday.
Newcastle United said: “The last two years have been challenging, with Covid-19 having a considerable impact on the club’s finances and therefore the amount of cash we have available to spend. Internally, all parties have long been aware of the budgetary parameters under which we are operating. Ahead of the summer transfer window and having made a significant impact after arriving on loan in January 2021, Joe Willock was identified as the club’s primary target. Once it was confirmed that the player would be available on a permanent deal, a collaborative decision was taken to pursue this option. All parties were aware as to the implications for further squad consolidation, with the collective view being that securing Joe Willock was the right priority. There was a shared understanding that further additions to the playing squad would be heavily influenced by player trading, both in terms of available funds and space in the squad. In negotiating/securing this deal post Covid-19, we acknowledged the need to make an exception and, on this occasion, have spread the transfer fee over instalments. We did so this summer to secure a player who we know makes us stronger and who our head coach was unequivocal in his desire to sign. Since summer 2019, the club has made nine permanent signings and taken five players on loan. Our net spend over this period is c£120m (£160m spent on players and £40m received from sales). We have delivered on our commitment to spending what we have, and indeed because of our business this summer, have spent more to secure our primary target. To suggest otherwise is misleading and claims that money has been taken out of the club are wholly untrue. For context, this summer, Sky Sports reported that Newcastle United’s net spend was the tenth highest in the Premier League. The club retained its best players despite the obvious financial challenges. Having finished last season in 12th place in the Premier League, and in the top six of the form table over the final nine fixtures, the club at all levels maintains a strong belief in its current squad. We have a talented and committed group of players who have shown that they are fully capable of delivering and we ask all our loyal supporters to get behind their team, because we are stronger together.”
Newcastle are 17th in the table after three games, with one point earned. Choudhury is yet to play a single minute for City this season. His game-time is expected to be limited with Wilfred Ndidi, Youri Tielemans, Boubakary Soumare and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all ahead of him in the midfield pecking order.
