GOODNEWS- Newcastle United CEO makes £148m transfer claim after finalising club-record deal
Newcastle United’s CEO, Darren Eales, has expressed confidence that the club will retain its key players this summer, having successfully navigated their Premier League Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) concerns. The Magpies faced a potential points deduction but managed to avert this by finalizing the combined £68 million sale of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively, just before the accounting period deadline on June 30.
While Newcastle was reluctant to let go of both players, particularly Anderson whose £35 million fee matches the club’s record for a player sale, these transactions ensured they wouldn’t need to sell critical players like Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak.
Anthony Gordon had attracted interest from Liverpool, with discussions between the two clubs occurring last month. Meanwhile, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak were heavily linked with moves to Manchester City and Arsenal.
When asked if he expects these players to remain with Newcastle for the start of the 2024-25 season, Eales confidently responded, “Yes.”
Regarding the potential departure of these players, Eales commented, “Look, you know what the market is like; there will always be noise around any sort of transfer deadline. For us, it was one of those situations where we knew what we had to achieve.”
Eales pointed out an unintended consequence of the PSR rules, explaining, “The PSR inadvertently incentivizes the sale of either homegrown players or players with a low book value. I think that’s something no one anticipated when these rules were introduced over a decade ago.”
He further elaborated, “It’s quite perverse that you would be almost incentivized to sell players who are integral to the club’s culture and beloved by the fans, just to maximize PSR headroom. However, we had to make the deals that ensured the club’s compliance. From that perspective, we did what was necessary. But we retained our core players, like Isak, Gordon, Bruno, and Joelinton. Now, we look forward to strengthening the squad and advancing to the next level.”
Eales’ remarks underscore Newcastle United’s strategic approach to maintaining their competitive edge while adhering to financial regulations. The club is now poised to focus on future growth and strengthening its squad for the upcoming season.