Newcastle set for £100m+ spend after Paul Mitchell U-turn and Eddie Howe push

Newcastle set for £100m+ spend after Paul Mitchell U-turn and Eddie Howe push - Report

by Olly Hawkins · 5 July 2024, 06:57

The Telegraph are reporting that Newcastle United are expected to spend in excess £100m this summer, also revealing how Paul Mitchell's appointment came about.

With the club's PSR issues lifted following the £68m double sale of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson last week, Newcastle have entered July in a healthy position. Financially we have some much-needed freedom to sign a quality right-winger and right-sided centre-back, but also a top-class operator in Mitchell to support our summer plans.

Luke Edwards reveals that our newly announced sporting director has always been the club's 'first choice target', insisting that a failed move for Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman only came about due to Mitchell's initial reluctance to accept the job.

Mitchell's reason for delaying is not made clear by The Telegraph - the i report that 'greater control over recruitment' was key after Saudi intervention - but they have revealed that Darren Eales played a key role in convincing him to take the job on Tyneside, with Eddie Howe also pushing the club to recruit a director with his track record in the transfer market who can add some expertise behind the scenes.

It's believed the former Monaco man 'ticked all of the boxes' for Newcastle given his impressive recruitment record and experience both domestically and across Europe, where he's had spells at RB Leipzig in Germany and successful stints in the Premier League at Spurs and Southampton.

Back to the £100m transfer claims, it's not clear if this could be boosted by further sales, with Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson both at risk of exits, but it's a healthy figure given we've already secured four signings in Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Hall, Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy.

After playing a key role in our pursuit of Mitchell, CEO Darren Eales said: "We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club.

"His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate."