Newcastle transfer budget for January after takeover

Newcastle’s January transfer budget revealed, with new Saudi owners set to take cautious approach, as James Tarkowski and Jesse Lingard reportedly targeted as first signings.

Despite the fact Newcastle are now regarded as the richest club in the world thanks to their new Saudi owners’ £320billion fortune, they will reportedly not go overboard in the January transfer window.

Newcastle’s new owners do not intend to fund a sizable spending spree in January, according to reports.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund bought the club last week, after derided owner Mike Ashley was at the helm for 14 years

The deal was approved after the Premier League contentiously ruled that the PIF is a separate entity to the Saudi state, which has committed numerous human rights abuses.

With a net worth of £320bn, Newcastle now have the wealthiest owners in world football.

But the club’s supporters should not expect to see any superstars arriving at St James’ Park at the start of 2022.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the club will spend only £50m in January – despite having access to around £190m without breaking Financial Fair Play regulations.

The new owners want to build up the club gradually and will invest in the squad in a controlled manner.

That may come as a disappointment to those Newcastle fans who were hoping for the squad to be transformed in the winter window.

A fund of £50m means only two or three players are likely to arrive in the northeast when the transfer market reopens.

James Tarkowski, the Burnley centre-back who is out of contract at Turf Moor next summer, is one of the names under consideration.

The England centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season, but he could eat up a large portion of that £50m budget.

Another name mentioned is Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard, though it is uncertain if he would be willing to join the north east club.

The amount of funds that is reportedly set to be made available is perhaps slightly surprising, considering that the Magpies may still be in a relegation dogfight come the end of the season.

The report adds that, under Financial Fair Play rules, they are permitted to splurge as much as £200m.

This could lead to an influx of new signings next summer, if they stay up – potentially by a new manager.

It seems as though the inevitable is being delayed, however, with various big-name bosses being linked with the job at St James’ Park.

Antonio Conte, Lucien Favre and Frank Lampard are just three names to have been touted as potential replacements for Bruce.

Newcastle are currently 19th in the Premier League table and could face a sustained battle against relegation this season, despite the identity of their owners.