PIF must oversee Newcastle signing spree and halt exodus - ex-scout
Newcastle United have been told they must prioritise stability this summer with a wave of new signings.
Former Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham scout Bryan King exclusively told Football Insider that Newcastle are unlikely to bounce back next season without a deluge of new arrivals.
The Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League, failing to qualify for any level of European football despite having featured in the Champions League knockout rounds.
Eddie Howe has been placed under significant pressure at St James' Park, but the 48-year-old appears to have survived for now.
Anthony Gordon has already left the club, joining Barcelona in a deal worth around £69million last month.
Newcastle looked to replace him with highly-rated Spaniard Victor Munoz, but saw their deal hijacked by Liverpool at the final stages.
Bryan King questions PIF prospects for Newcastle
The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, PIF, took over Newcastle in 2021 and looked to transform the club.
The years since have seen them move far away from the relegation zone, winning their first trophy in 70 years last year when they lifted the Carabao Cup.
Returning to the Champions League twice, too. This season has felt like a step backwards, however, and PIF's withdrawal of its support in several of their investments has prompted significant uncertainty.
"I'm a little bit questionable about Newcastle at the moment," King told Football Insider. "I wonder whether they want to be a middle-of-the-table Premier League club or they want to challenge like what they did two or three years ago.
"I can't see them doing it next season, to be honest. There are disruptions within the team and the club. That's got to get sorted out and the only way they can do that is either bring in new players and certainly not sell your best players.
"Bring in new players, stabilise the club and start winning games, because they weren't very consistent last season."
Newcastle under huge pressure to respond
With Newcastle's project seemingly falling apart at the seams, PIF has found itself under huge pressure.
Sandro Tonali also looks bound to leave in the coming weeks, and the likes of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento have been linked with exits.
With another season of mediocrity set to prove fatal for PIF's project, it is crucial that this summer serves at a catalyst for the future.
Should it not, the project that had looked so exciting for Newcastle may already be dead in the water.