Kieran Maguire

Mon 31 May 2021 8:00, UK

Mike Ashley is “penny-pinching” with Newcastle United in the transfer market in order to maximise his profit from a potential takeover deal. 

That is according to finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively after Football Insider revealed Newcastle’s budget ahead of the summer window.

Steve Bruce will be entrusted with a measly £8-10million kitty to spend on new recruits, making big-money moves for the likes of Joe Willock unlikely.

Ashey has been attempting to jettison the club for over a decade and this site revealed in April that Newcastle are confident a deal can be completed this summer.

This is the reason for Ashley’s miserly approach in the transfer market, claims Maguire.

He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: “It’s like if you’re selling a house, you’re not going to pay to get new windows. 

“He will make a profit when he sells it, so why spend money? It increases the risk unless you reinvest in talent and recruitment.

“You get an extra £2m for every position you finish higher in the league. At one point it looked like they were going to finish 17th. So from going to 17th to 12th, that’s another £12m straight up.

“So in light of that, it does seem penny-pinching from Ashley to have such a strategy.

“If the sale of the cub is still bumping along at the end of this calendar year, it’s going to make his job a little more difficult.”

Ashley is currently embroiled in two legal disputes with the Premier League.

An anti-competition lawsuit and arbitration case are set to gather pace later this year.

In other news, Newcastle United stance on re-signing Jetro Willems revealed.