Eddie Howe warns Financial Fair Play rules could limit Newcastle spending

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has warned that Financial Fair Play regulations makes PIF’s Newcastle United spending spree “unsustainable.” The Magpies have spent more than $225 million in the last two transfer windows on the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak. And while Howe welcomes that approach, he is of the understanding that Financial Fair Play — which is a metric based largely on financial losses compared to commercial revenue — will eventually mean that, without Champions League football, United will have to curb their spending. “I do think it’s unsustainable.

Financial Fair Play, I know, is mentioned a lot, but that will guarantee it. We have to be mindful of that fact. That is where we need to improve all aspects of the football club to make sure we don’t have to go into the transfer market and spend that money,” said the Magpies’ head coach, ahead of the club’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur.

“Can we produce more of our own players? Can we improve everything we deliver so we are not so reliant on huge transfer fees? Because it is going to be very difficult for the future for all clubs to spend that kind of money on a consistent basis.” Early season success — United have lost just once in their opening 12 games of the campaign — has led many to point toward the Magpies making a challenge for the Premier League’s established top six: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. When asked about the question of taking on the “big six” as well as the issues with FFP, initially, at least, Howe said: “I’d love to think so. They have a level of understanding.

I’m sure they do. It’s a difficult one for me to comment on. Dan has made that comment.