Newcastle's 'important' transfer admission as Dan Ashworth sees £572m Man United nightmare


Eddie Howe has admitted that it will be 'important' for Newcastle United to show their ambition in the transfer market moving forward.

Newcastle ended the window in profit for the first time in six years following a turbulent summer. Paul Mitchell acknowledged it would have been easier to have sat in front of reporters last month with 'hallmark signings that cost a lot of money', but the sporting director stressed he did not want his own 'glorification' to be at the cost of Newcastle's 'ability to grow'.

Newcastle, who narrowly avoided a PSR breach and a possible 10-point deduction in June, 'drew a line in the sand' and stopped bidding for top target Marc Guehi weeks before the window shut because the black-and-whites felt Crystal Palace's demands were too high for a player with less than two years left on his contract. Howe recognised that Newcastle's spend was 'way off what some clubs have invested', but the Magpies boss pointed out 'that doesn't guarantee anything'.

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Manchester United, for instance, agreed deals worth up to £163m, including add-ons, in former Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth's first summer at the club, but the Red Devils are floundering under Erik ten Hag. A number of new arrivals have endured a testing start to the campaign and the group of players who featured in the 3-0 defeat against Spurs at Old Trafford at the weekend could end up costing a whopping £572m combined following years of questionable spending. Newcastle, in contrast, have made their best start to a season since 2011 - on paper at least - and there is a lot more to come from a side who rediscovered their trademark intensity in a 1-1 draw against champions Manchester City at the weekend.

Although Newcastle failed to land a difference maker last summer, the Magpies at least managed to keep hold of their best players and Anthony Gordon said he was 'excited' to sign a new long-term deal. Gordon 'did not need any persuading to stay' and the Newcastle forward is set to follow in the footsteps of team-mate Bruno Guimaraes, who agreed fresh terms a year ago.

Howe reiterated that the ambition of the club 'remains really strong', and suggested the players can see that, but the Newcastle boss wants to back those words up in 2025 and beyond.

"It's important that we show that," he told reporters. "Players need to feel that we are continually improving in a league that's always improving and never standing still so that's certainly something for us to think about and consider as we continue through different transfer windows."