George Caulkin issues transfer message in response to frustrated Newcastle fan

The Athletic's George Caulkin has taken to Twitter (X) to reassure a few frustrated Newcastle fans after growing concerns going into the final three weeks of the summer window.

He insists 'Newcastle can spend' and 'will spend' despite having a second bid for Marc Guehi rejected today, with the experienced North East reporter clarifying the PSR situation, our two top priorities and the 'cat and mouse' nature of transfers as we push to bring in a right-sided centre-back and right-winger.

In response to Newcastle fan Gaz (@85_NUFC), who said 'If we've satisfied PSR last year and still can't spend this year then it's depressing to be honest. It suggests strongly to me that we need a big sale. It also suggests that rumours of meeting a £65m tag for a CB are absolute nonsense', Caulkin said:

'Newcastle can spend! And they will! There’s nothing to stop them spending £65m on Guehi. But under this system nobody can make huge losses. Everybody has to trade & it’s something Newcastle have to get better at - plus they’ve spent a huge amount post-takeover. All clubs have to sell and Newcastle can’t go through what they went through in June again: the day before the PSR deadline they still had a £60m deficit. So they’re trying to do business now.

'Their strategy this summer has been to keep their best players. So far so good. The one to keep an eye on is Gordon, not because they have to sell but because Liverpool haven’t gone away.

'To answer another point here: a right-sided centre-back and right-winger were the two big priorities this summer. I don’t think there was a different weight on one over the other.

'The window is cat and mouse. The selling club will have their own strategy, so will the player, so will rival clubs. People push towards the deadline because they hope to get value or flush out other interest. It’s not just about what Newcastle want. Minteh was a case in point. Newcastle sorted a great deal with Lyon. He refused to go because he wanted to stay in the Premier League. So the club had to scramble around to find something else.'

https://twitter.com/GeorgeCaulkin/status/1821853748739674411