Newcastle United’s absence from European competitions next season is becoming an increasingly significant hurdle in the transfer market, according to a new report from The Athletic.
The Magpies lost out to Aston Villa for Johan Manzambi shortly after Liverpool beat them to Juan Munoz earlier this summer, turning the obvious concerns that missing out on UEFA competition would impact the club beyond its finances into a very worrying reality.
According to The Athletic, failing to qualify for Europe has
already cost Newcastle an estimated €70 million (£60 million) in annual revenue. The report also notes the club remains subject to its UEFA future-compliance settlement, which forced the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali this summer to balance the accounts and facilitate future arrivals.
The Athletic, however, argues the impact stretches beyond the club’s coffers.
“Beyond the financial ramifications of finishing outside of the European spots, Newcastle’s attractiveness has also been hit further, especially when they are in direct competition with Champions League clubs,” The Athletic reported.
The report says Newcastle had identified players they believed would have been attainable had the club qualified for Europe, including Lille attacker Matias Fernandez-Pardo, before shifting its focus elsewhere.
Manzambi’s move to Aston Villa was noted as the latest example of the challenges Newcastle is facing this summer.
“With Manzambi and Villa, just as happened with Munoz and Liverpool last month, Newcastle have lost out after going head-to-head with a Champions League club. That is their present reality,” The Athletic reported.
Despite those setbacks, The Athletic reports Newcastle remains confident it can strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad before the transfer window closes, something that has started to happen with a few transfers, although all of them for the future more than for the present.
“Newcastle are adamant that they will still bring in quality additions to bolster Howe’s squad, even if there remains the risk they will miss out on players should elite or European clubs offer competition,” The Athletic reported
The report adds that Newcastle had already begun exploring alternative midfield options before Manzambi’s decision, including exploratory talks with Tottenham regarding Lucas Bergvall, whose £46 million bid from the Magpies was rejected.
