Toon stars in rush for Euro spot
NEWCASTLE stars have pledged to target European qualification NEXT season.
Toon boss Eddie Howe has been playing it cool, insisting the Magpies are on a steady rebuilding programme which would peak in five to eight years, despite being funded by super-wealthy Saudis.
But Brazilian midfielder and club player of the year Joelinton has let slip the private target of Howe’s reinvigorated squad, which the manager wanted to keep secret so it does not become a burden.
However, the United chief IS impressed his squad have collectively set high targets as they head to Burnley today.
Howe will demand the club has a proper crack at the cup competitions and rivals the best of the rest in the Premier League. He will have a transfer budget of around £60million, plus proceeds from player sales, with the owners happy to go for steady growth.
Howe said: “Joe is a good guy and he is positive and optimistic. And we should be. I have no issue with that and I want my squad to be confident and ambitious.
“They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.
Wages
“I would rather these things stay internal because we have to also manage expectations. We don’t want to play under an unnecessary burden or pressure that hampers our performance.”
Newcastle’s turnover is a third of the elite clubs, meaning they cannot match the wages and fees paid by the top five or six sides even with Saudi backing, citing profitability rules.
But Wolves and Leicester, who are ahead of Toon in establishing themselves near the top, are not out of reach.
Howe added: “You could pick individual clubs and say, ‘Why can’t we?’ But there are clubs on a journey that have been on their journey a lot longer than we have, and have invested vast sums of money to get to where they are.
“There are a couple of clubs below us as well, who have invested vast sums, and that shows money does not guarantee you anything.
“It’s all about the quality and your work, and that includes recruitment, and also the culture you set at the club.
“Hopefully we’re on a good path, but we’ve got to stay on that path.”
Signing a striker is a priority, with Ivan Toney, Dominic Calvert-lewin and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez topping their list.