Why Newcastle's European exit is unlikely to impact Isak, Bruno or summer signings

I think the importance of European football to players sometimes gets massively overstated. Of course it's a factor, but it's not the be-all and end-all to keeping and attracting players.

Champions League semi-finalist, Bruno Guimaraes (a player so good that £35m was universally seen as a bargain) joined us when we were 19th in the Premier League. So did Kieran Trippier - a Euro finalist, La Liga winner, regular in the Champions League.

Alexander Isak and Sven Botman joined the following summer - two young players who were being sought after by loads of top clubs, and had Champions League experience.

The reason all of those players joined was because of the long-term strategy and scope for growth that Newcastle has. And that potential will still continue to attract players.

There are also so many human elements that come into it too. Family, friends, comfort, familiarity etc. - a few extra games in Kazakhstan and Iceland aren't going to be massively significant in their careers. They'll be confident that we can return to Europe next season. Players, agents, and clubs don't think one season at a time - but fans do.

Sure, losing out on Conference League will slightly damage revenue, and it'll ever so slightly damage our pull - but not in a significant enough way that it sets the project back at all. It'll give us a better chance to compete in the league next season, and who knows where we could end up.

Put it this way - I don't think Bruno and Isak will be handing in transfer requests this morning on the back of yesterday's result.