FFP and PSR 'wreaking havoc' with Newcastle United's ambition transfer plans

Whatever label you want to stick on the jar - financial fair play or profitability and sustainability rules - it is wreaking havoc with the ambitious plans of Newcastle United this summer. One position perfectly sums up the gnawing, irritating problem. Outside-right.

It is generally accepted that United want an upgrade to help them climb the hill but they are in a straitjacket when it comes to wielding the cheque book which means they look to have missed out on their No.1 target Michael Olise.

At the other end of the scale United are being forced to sell to enable them to buy and that puts two current right wingers in the shop window - Yankuba Minteh and Miggy Almiron. While the Paraguayan's possible departure is generally accepted as a natural fall out during business transactions the prospect of Minteh going leaves many feeling uneasy.

READ MORE: Newcastle United taking double transfer risk after Dan Ashworth's £100m vision

READ MORE: Newcastle transfer news LIVE as Minteh agrees deal and United ready for striker move

To sacrifice a hugely talented teenager before a single fan has seen him perform in black and white, even if at a good profit, appears at first glance strange and risky. The worry is short term gain could end in long term pain. Think of Mo Salah and Kevin de Bryne at Chelsea though even they were allowed to unpack before being shunted off.

It would appear suitors are queuing up for Minteh who is said to make Usain Bolt look a tad pedestrian. Roma, Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and Everton are sniffing around having considered an asking price of £25m plus within their reach. Now Minteh's agent is going as far as to claim that the club is not only willing to sell but the player has actually agreed personal terms with one of his suitors.

I know it would mean a profit of just under £20m made in a blink of the eye for a 19-year-old signed from Danish side Odense for £6m last summer and promptly shot out on loan to Feyenoord but he scored 11 goals and added six assists in his 37 appearances under the new Liverpool boss Arne Slot. Sure, the Dutch league is hardly Premier League class but nevertheless those figures offer up the prospect of valuable service for those securing his services.

To keep a sense of proportion the disappearance of Minteh together with say Almiron and Callum Wilson to significantly boost the transfer kitty would be a lot better than seeing Bruno, Alexander Isak or Anthony Gordon disappearing into the wide blue yonder.

The bottom line is that we don't know how good Minteh is or can become because we have not had the opportunity to see him. Geordies just fear that a special talent may be lost before he has been discovered.

Will we buy better? I hope so but I don't know for certain. What we do know, or at least believe, is that Olise is on his way out of the PL and out of the country while United fret. It looks as though he will be making goals for Harry Kane next season and bagging a few himself in Bayern Munich garb. Ominously and almost inevitably football's greatest sneak thief Chelsea, who nicked Tosin from Geordies, are still lurking in the background.

I'm gutted but under the circumstances hardly surprised. FFP and all that. I made an impassioned plea on a Chronicle podcast for him to turn his gaze upon a city wrapped in football passion but alas the German equivalent of £60m will probably be landing in Crystal Palace's bank account rather than Saudi gold.

Financial restrictions are either fair and proper or annoyingly restrictive depending on which side of the street you inhabit. If you are relatively skint then FFP is only fair reining in the rich and providing a more level playing field but if you have a few bob it stunts your growth leaving you looking in Harrods window able to afford what you see but with the doors firmly locked and bolted.

-----------------------------------------

Anthony Gordon has been seen as often as Lord Lucan. Cole Palmer has become a ringer for Howard Hughes. Both out of sight if not out of mind.

But then Phil Foden, the Premier League's Player of the Year, has looked a shadow of his proper self. Harry Kane adrift in a sea of mediocrity. Declan Rice if not a pudding certainly short of a rampant Gunner.

Over to Gareth Southgate. Is he wasting the current Golden Generation?

Of course England will complete their Euro group matches against Slovenia on Tuesday night top and qualified but fate had been kind in giving them less than world class opposition.

Gordon has been magnificent for Newcastle, quick and driving forward to get behind defenders which they hate. Why take him and then when it is blatantly obvious England are struggling to make any impact fail to call him from the bench? He must now start without question.

Southgate is a belt and braces manager. Let us not lose rather than make certain we win. He will always take a side blessed by quality players to the cusp of success but so far never to the ultimate prize. Will that change in Germany? Are you betting on it? Pre-tournament favourites _ are you sure?

If Southgate wins it from here he deserves a knighthood. If he doesn't he will no longer be the England manager, probably falling on his sword under the tirade.

And by the way the Football Association needn't even think about making a call for Eddie Howe. He is otherwise engaged.