The completion of the takeover on Thursday made Newcastle the richest club in the world and not by a small margin. The new owners are planning on a complete rebuild from the ground up which is music to many Newcastle fans’ ears.
In an exclusive interview in The Sun, Amanda Staveley mentioned two areas of need that the new board will be laser-focused on – infrastructure and the playing squad.
Newcastle’s newfound wealth will allow the club to not only greatly improve the facilities but also attract some world-class talent. When asked about recruitment, Staveley mentioned that getting the infrastructure up to snuff will be just as important:
“We are in the market to compete for world-class players.
“We have great ambitions — I hope it’s going to be a game-changer for Newcastle United.
“But if you don’t put the infrastructure around that world-class player and you don’t have a team that can play with him, you’ll get nowhere.
“The training ground is really awful and needs a huge amount of investment.
“Luckily, that is one area we are not restricted by Financial Fair Play.
“There is no point in having fantastic players if there is nowhere for them to train.
“We are in the market to compete for world-class players.
“But if you don’t put the infrastructure around that world-class player, you’ll get nowhere.”
The training ground has been neglected at Newcastle for far too long. It’s reassuring that Staveley sees upgrading the infrastructure as a primary focal point. That will also play a role in attracting top talent.
Staveley alluded to Financial Fair Play in her comments. That is one area Mike Ashley has left the club in excellent shape in. His frugality has left the new board with plenty of room to maneuver in the transfer market.
The Telegraph is reporting that Newcastle can spend up to £190m in January before breaching FFP rules. It’s important to stress that they are not claiming that will be January’s budget.
Due to Newcastle’s sudden change of circumstances, we can expect the club to be linked with almost every player under the sun going forward. That has already started en masse over the past few days.
Before the initial collapse of the takeover in July of 2020, Newcastle were linked with many top players. Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho has already again been touted as a top target of the new owners. The Brazilian was linked throughout 2020 along with a few other stars.
The player that was brought up constantly in 2020 was Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The 30-year-old’s name has again resurfaced with Football Insider reporting the new board will try to make him one of their first signings.
Koulibaly has just two years left on his contract and won’t command the £90m fee touted last year. So he could fit Newcastle’s reported new transfer policy of targeting players in the final years of their contract.
While the Senegal international doesn’t have Premier League experience, he is a very accomplished defender who has been linked with top Premier League clubs during the past few seasons.
Another player that was reportedly on the new owners’ wishlist last year was Real Betis attacker Nabil Fekir. At the time, the Frenchman’s price tag was reported to be around £42m. His contract also runs out in 2023.
Sport Witness has cited a report from Spain’s Estadio Deportivo that Real Betis fear losing their star if Newcastle come knocking. There was ‘strong interest’ in the 28-year-old from the consortium last year.
We’ll likely be linked with other names that did the rounds prior to July of last year. Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, Napoli forward Hirving Lozano, and Arkadiusz Milik, now with Marseille, were all considered top targets amongst others just over a year ago.
98 comments so far
Mund
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:35 PM
Comment #1World class players! 😎
Mund
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:36 PM
Comment #2I have no doubt in my mind they will make the right decisions and get in the right people in all areas needed and take this club to the very top!
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #3Oh no, not Jose, he is so damn miserable he would put a total dampener on the the whole TO euphoria.
Lets face it, he wasn`t that good at his previous mega rich club was he.
My choice would be Rogers.
the crown princes nashers
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #4you know I have a very strange feeling alan shearer is the next manager, does anyone know if he has his badges am pretty sure he does
levy must be one crazy person considering his team are due in newcastle next week wonder if the backstabber will have the gaul to show his face
cleveleysbob
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Comment #5My smile just keeps getting wider 🙂
the crown princes nashers
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:40 PM
Comment #6shearer was also at the hotel amanda was at as well which makes it even more interesting
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:40 PM
Comment #7Gerrard saying he fancies the job, well what a surprise. Stay in Scotland Steve, for a start, you are called Steve, and you won the SPL which is the equivalent of lge 2.
Got knocked out of the Europa lge early doors, say no more.
Romford mag
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:41 PM
Comment #8Miss staveley
We love you already 😀
Wor B
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:41 PM
Comment #9toonluvva
I’m happy with my martoon predictions.
My choice of Kets for manager at end of season is looking a lot better than those who picked Bruce.
😆
Brucie is a Joker
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Comment #10Remember when city hit January and they only had an average robinhio in the team. Think they were 17th in the league. They got Barry, Given, Bellamy to name a few.
I feel we would need to do something similar to get ourselves into a better position and then kick on next summer. Would like to get players like Phillips, Dunk, Rice, Zaha, Lamptey, Aaron’s, etc. To just get some young and experienced players through.
IrishRob
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:44 PM
Comment #11I wouldn’t write Gerrard or Rogers off but I am just not filled with much desire to get either in. Plus if we can get a big name manager it would massively affect who would join us atm.
There’s so many out there to choose from that will come here and won’t be tied to other clubs. I don’t think it will be a problem finding a great manager and I think they will choose very wisely in the end.
But I can’t for the life of me see Eddie Howe anywhere near this club. It would be massively underwhelming and would make it a lot harder to sign top players. But you never know in this game.
lochinvar
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:44 PM
Comment #12A Spurs perspective.
A damming indictment.
Will he have the bolls to come to SJP?
Daniel Levy: Shame and Scandal | SpursNetwork | Tottenham Hotspur News
& Fansite” https://www.spursnetwork.com/2021/06/05/daniel-levy-shame-and-scandal/
the crown princes nashers
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:45 PM
Comment #13steve g wouldnt give it his all hes liverpool and thats it, no point appointing him as manager considering hes only won 1 title and that was in scotland his european games have been a nightmare so no thanks
if conte doesnt want the job fine my other choice is alan shearer
John Tudor
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:45 PM
Comment #14Marky mark
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Comment #15Man City fans warned us last year when it looked like the TO was going through of the bitterness and hatred we would get, they had it for 5 years.
Do i give a flying foot of what other fans think, nope.
Better to be hated for being mega rich and ambitious than to be a laughing stock with no ambition at all.
Ron Knee
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Comment #16Mark Douglas@MsiDouglas
The #nufc notebook
Big names interested in #nufc roles – as Ralf Ragnick floated to new owners
Bruce future uncertain
Staveley on #nufc owner’s ‘regularly updated’ business plan
Women’s team set for massive boost
lochinvar
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:47 PM
Comment #17Get Carter.
Well no, but
Get Conte
And parade him in front of Spurs and Levy.
Irrespective of that match result quality always rise to the top.
simon376
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:48 PM
Comment #18Thought Stevie G would have been good with Rafa as DoF might work out if wenger in that position
lochinvar
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:49 PM
Comment #19Gerrard will go back to Liverpool when Klipp Klopp moves on which might be sooner than you think.
check the toastie
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:51 PM
Comment #20Kalvin Phillips
Jude Bellingham
Mikeal Antonio
Chilwell
Tarkowski
Koulibaly
Antonio Conte appoint this week.
Top8 instantly this season.
the crown princes nashers
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:52 PM
Comment #21lochinvar
aye reckon so as well, think it end of this season as well
lochinvar
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:53 PM
Comment #22“The Guardian reported that the rest of the Premier League are demanding an emergency meeting about the takeover. According to the report, the rest of the league are ‘united in opposition’ to Newcastle’s takeover.”
Sorry, too late.
You are f3ecked.
Dear Guardian,
Please publish the correspondence and emails between your paper and all the other clubs in the League.
We would like to know who you spoke with at each club, how you phased questions and how you interpreted their answers.
In the interests of transparency a subject dear to your heart. please publish the dates when you first had contact with Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea , Man City and Man U and who you spoke with and what they told you to say.
You will of course appreciate that ‘restraint of trade’ is I understand an illegal matter. Cartels are also illegal.
Please profile Barclays and their attitude to women.
Please publish an incisive investigation into why Richard Master of the EPL had a cozy chat with Levy from Sours just before the takeover of NUFC was confirmed. This is the same levy trying to save his bacon by signing a new £250million sponsorship deal
Oh and by the way China are threating to invade Taiwan and claim the country as their territory. The USA will defend Taiwan.
Please explain the concept of Global Thermo Nuclear War to your loony readership.
We look forward to your honesty, transparency and reply.
RSVP SJP
DubaiMicky
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Comment #23A new Training Complex will take 3 years!
Even if it gets rushed through with planning, so for a few years we’ll be treading water.
Then there’s SJP, that idea to move it 90 degrees could happen, but again, that’s 3-5 years.
Patience
https://youtu.be/ErvgV4P6Fzc
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Comment #24Taking about potential, currently Man U and Man C women are on live on bbc.
A Manchester derby played between two of the big hitters in the WSL, with a crowd of 4k.
Amanda saying she will invest in the Nufc ladies team to put them on the map.
it will be interesting to see how many fans turn up to watch our ladies playing teams like that. I bet it would be a lot more than 4k, and that is without the derby significance.
Adamn_92
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:03 PM
Comment #25Jose is a right miserable so and so and also has a knack of blaming everyone but himself, plenty of excuses. Not to mention he seems to fall out with players quite a bit. Potter would be a good shout, only reason Brighton didn’t do great last season was they couldn’t take their chances. If he got us playing how Brighton are and then had reinforcements in January, we’d be a joy to watch. Conte still would be my first chance but Potter would be just after thinking about what he could do with better players.
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:03 PM
Comment #26If expanding the stadium proves too problematic for the consortium maybe a new stadium would be built next to the racecourse, which is of course owned by the Reubens.
In an ideal world i would love the cathedral to remain our home, but it`s all about revenue now, and making the most of fans potential, so if the current ground isn`t big enough then there is only one option.
big bob
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:07 PM
Comment #27How great is it to be linked with great players and not sh*t casts off from other teams
How good will be in the summer when we buy players we don’t have to wait for the big 6 to do there business they will have to wait for us and we might leave players for them to buy !!
/%%/
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:09 PM
Comment #28WLtoon and others wishing to try and poach a manager in employment.
I think Rodgers has a good relationship with the owners, prising a manager away from a club isn’t as easy as you think.
magscar
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:10 PM
Comment #29Isn’t just great to hear her words ( read you know what i mean) – doesn’t dampen my expectations inslightest just makes me realise they have their heads screwed on
I’m just happy to be on board no matter direction, intermediate destination or speed- what it is to be afootball club with ambition again- had nearly lost the feeling
Football and business commonsense – can’t beat it 🙂
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:11 PM
Comment #30Koulibally linked again , just like 18 months ago, only this time we DO have new owners, it`s not speculation about who we might sign IF the TO goes ahead.
Happy days indeed now, no need to turn the clock back
coming home
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:12 PM
Comment #31Just been told the sports direct signs are down
Can anyone confirm?
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:12 PM
Comment #32Favre is a good shout if he’s available, would he come?
Could be ideal.
big bob
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:14 PM
Comment #33Need to sack Bruce this weekend so the players know what’s happening for week ahead new ideas on pitch etc
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:14 PM
Comment #34Jail,
I know that, i think Rogers wouldn`t budge, he is just my choice is all.
Adamn_92
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:15 PM
Comment #35I wonder if any managers will have a morale dilemma in joining us? With the bad press currently and if they agree with those shouting human rights into the void.
magscar
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:16 PM
Comment #36Jail
yep – many managers doing OK out there are going to be keeping a watching brief on us for now
Those out of a job now could be short termers or project men
Rafa would have been the man to guide us through this if only this had happened last summer as it should 🙁
Novocastrian66
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:17 PM
Comment #37WLtoon. A stadium next to the racecourse? I don’t know where you live but to 50,000 plus to Gosforth park every fortnight is an impossibility.
The transfer links do not exist.
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:17 PM
Comment #38I don’t see us buying TOP TOP players just yet.
Definitely way above what we’re used to getting but some names mentioned are pie in the sky.
Still be some great players on the way though.
Still more interested in Manager and DOF
Optimistic prime
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:19 PM
Comment #39Dig down to make the ground bigger.
Make the opo feel like they’re playing in the bowls of Hell 😉
WLtoon
Oct 9, 2021 at 2:20 PM
Comment #40I can`t think for the life of me why the new owners would even consider Bruce even for one game considering Staveley herself even admitted that this squad should not be second bottom of the league.
It`s international break weekend, what better time to do some in house spring cleaning and acquiring a shiny new coach to carry the players onto a new horizon.
I don`t think Bruce will be here for the Spurs game, but what do i know.