Shields Gazette reporter Liam Kennedy has revealed Newcastle United do not have the budget to allow them to enter bidding wars for transfer targets.
The Magpies have welcomed just one arrival in the transfer window so far, with Joe Willock joining in a £20million switch from Arsenal.
The move comes after Willock scored eight goals in 14 appearances during a loan spell on Tyneside last season.
Will Newcastle make any more signings before the window shuts?
Yes
No
Willock also became the first player since Alan Shearer to score in seven consecutive Premier League outings while enjoying his temporary spell with Newcastle.
But the big-money transfer means Magpies boss Steve Bruce has very little money still to play with despite being linked with the likes of Marseille defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara and, according to French media outlet L’Equipe, joining the race for centre-half Sven Botman, who won the Ligue One title with Lille last season.
Kennedy admits Kristoffer Ajer’s summer move from Celtic to Brentford shows Newcastle will be unable to compete with rivals for new additions.
He told TIF: “One of the players they really wanted this summer was Kristoffer Ajer. They were desperate to sign him but then they just didn’t put the money up because they knew they couldn’t go to the levels Brentford went to.
“Botman has been coveted by some of the best clubs in Europe over the last couple of years. I just don’t see Newcastle dipping their toe in that water.
“At the same time, I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t a player who had been flagged up by the scouts because he is, by all accounts, a quality performer.”