Newcastle's secret weapon in our fight against FFP
Sadly, in the world of Financial Fair Play and Premier League Profit and Sustainability rules, there's never been a more important time to be good sellers.
However, to make profits and create room for signings on the balance sheet, you need to have sellable assets.
For a while now, the media have talked up big-money exits for Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak or Sven Botman, but it's been suggested that our ambitious Saudi owners plan to build around our best assets - not lose them - and rightly so.
So, who do we sell? It's a bittersweet topic as there's so many loveable players in our squad who have risen from the ashes under Eddie Howe, but his ability to improve players and therefore maximise their value in the market could be priceless in our fight against FFP.
Based on Transfermarkt valuations from 2021 (the year Howe was appointed) to the present day, here's some Newcastle players who've shot up in value:
- Joelinton - €15m ➡️ €42m
- Sean Longstaff - €13m ➡️ €25m
- Miguel Almiron - €16m ➡️ €30m
- Jacob Murphy - €4m ➡️ €15m
- Joe Willock - €22m ➡️ €35m
- Elliot Anderson - €1.5m ➡️ €13m
It's far from ideal to be discussing the money we could make from much-improved players who now make up an important part of our squad, but it'll come in very handy if needs must. Let's face it, I'd rather we raised funds from selling some of the above than lose our star players.
So, while some wonder if a major sale will be needed, Howe's ability to improve players, attract interest in previously depreciating assets and raise their market values can't be underestimated as we work our way through FFP restrictions.
