The departure of Lloyd Kelly to Juventus in a loan deal that contains what sources believe are “easy to meet” obligations to turn it into a £20million permanent transfer follows Miguel Almiron re-joining Atlanta United for around £9million.
The club coalesced around a decision not to pursue incomings weeks before their inactivity on deadline day, opting not to utilise Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) headroom in a transfer window when there’s little value to be had or realistic chance of taking one of their top, long-term targets for a reasonable price.
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Read MoreInternally, two substantial sales that won’t weaken the starting XI are being regarded as a success given that both Alimron and Kelly have virtually no “book value” in PSR terms. That means the deals negotiated for both will go on Newcastle’s books as “pure profit” and give them room to maneouvre on incomings, mitigate the need for a big sale before June 30 and also aid potential close season contract negotiations with Alexander Isak, who has 17 goals already this term.
If there is a criticism of Newcastle it’s that they haven’t been especially creative in their use of either the loan market or bringing in overseas players of potential, an area Mitchell is trying to improve by bolstering scouting networks and adding to the recruitment infrastructure.
Newcastle decided against competing with Manchester City for Abdukodir Khusanov (Photo: AP)Three successive transfer windows without big money incomings will also eliminate the prospect of a repeat of last summer’s desperate attempts to raise funds to avoid a breach of PSR limits – and protect Newcastle against “predatory” bids for Isak, Anthony Gordon or Sven Botman, who have all attracted covetous glances from Premier League rivals and overseas teams. If there are any sales, they will now be on Newcastle’s terms.
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Read MoreNone of this is what supporters want to hear when the club have needed to strengthen at right wing for almost two years and it does not make Eddie Howe‘s life any easier. But these compromises are the way of the world with PSR and financial fair play. If there is a silver lining, it comes in the lack of friction between Howe and Mitchell over this month’s strategy. Both seem to understand the remit and are realistic about what needs to be done and how it can help Newcastle in the longer term.
“Take Lloyd Kelly – they signed him for next to nothing and are pushing him out for £18-20million and after you take out agents’ fees and other things they’ll probably bank the thick end of £15million PSR profit on that deal.
“Miguel Almiron, again, is almost total profit at £9-11million so it does create significant leeway.
Eddie Howe is aligned with Paul Mitchell on Newcastle’s future (Photo: Reuters)
As professor Wilson points out, a more complete picture of the club’s ability to trade will be provided when they reveal their latest set of accounts later this month. An insider told The i Paper they will be “revealing” and set out clearly the challenges the club still face in terms of financial fair play.
“By creating a good, positive transfer balance for players sold you are creating a whole new wave of opportunity for yourself in the summer,” Wilson says.
“This is forward planning,” he says.
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Read More“They got through to the end of last season by the skin of their teeth, it wasn’t pleasant for the club and they don’t have the benefit of the European money coming in this year so it’s a different budget.”
Now the challenge is to make the right calls during a potentially transformative summer, when January’s inaction will be long forgotten.
“There’s a consensus – and it’s a wrong consensus – that spending a lot of money is the solution to every football club’s problems.
“Manchester United have spent a quarter of a billion pounds on recruitment and are oscillating in lower mid-table. Sometimes it is better to have a more strategic approach.”
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