On This Summer's Transfers...

Whatever we do: City, Arsenal, Lpool, Chelsea and Man U will no doubt spend big again.

And, that may include buying one or more of Tonali, Tino, Gordon and Hall - the latter who is our standout player this season and getting better every game.

Only the top clubs can afford ever increasing fees

The size of transfer fees now - £50M seems the minimum going rate for any player in the PL who has had a half decent season - means that teams outside of those mentioned will find it ever harder to improve their squads within the financial restrictions.

That means for teams like us - and especially us as NUFC fans - the strategy has to be finding players from abroad who cost less in fees and wages and can step into and perform in the first team.

Easy to say I know - but that is the reality, because as last summer showed we are also rans when the big 5 (forget Spurs) are interested in our targets.

Having said that; the financial restrictions stink and the Prem is in danger of descending into two leagues within a league. The top 5... and the rest.

That is not good for the future of the game.

Increasingly, I believe, those top 5 will dominate the CL positions, hoover up the huge income available, win titles and trophies, and attract the biggest sponsorship deals.

That means Newcastle will not only be also rans in the transfer market, but in the sponsorship market too. Big money follows the winners, not the losers.

CEO David Hopkinson's stated aim of winning the title by 2030 may be an admirable target, but in reality we have zero chance of getting there by 'splashing the cash'.

That is because, unless by a miracle the financial restrictions change, our only chance is to unearth diamonds in the transfer market for the price of cubic zirconia's.

And, even if we do, guess what?

The top 5 will wave massive cheques at us, massive wages at the players, and like Isak the outcome will be we lose the players who brought us success.

That's exactly what happened when Leicester pulled off a title winning miracle.

Financial restrictions also affect managers

If I'm a racing driver I want to be driving a Formula 1 not a Formula 3.

Not only that, if I'm a highly talented driver, I want to be in the best Formula 1.

Exactly the same principle applies to football managers.

I see the rumour is that Emery is now thinking of leaving Villa.

Why?

Because the financial restrictions make it far too difficult to satisfy his ambitions and achieve the success he wants. He knows he could get a job with a top 5 club.

He also knows that his squad limitations mean he could have a bad run or bad season where his management ability is disproportionately criticised and his reputation weakened.

Ditto Eddie Howe.

Eddie isn't blameless, but no manager is perfect. Not even Pep.

But Pep can get the players he wants, and Eddie and Emery can't.

The same largely goes for the managers at the other big 5 clubs.

Any criticism of Eddie, the club or PIF should bear that in mind.

Bad smells linger...

And the stink of the financial restrictions is nauseating.

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