Stefan Borson

Sun 4 May 2025 12:04, UK

Newcastle United could boost their summer transfer budget if they secure a return to the Champions League this season. 

Eddie Howe’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, but they have a game in hand over third-place Manchester City.

The Tyneside club have been restricted in their spending this season after facing profit and sustainability (PSR) issues, with top-flight clubs only permitted to lose £105million over a rolling three-year period. 

Newcastle failed to make a single signing in the latest January transfer window.

Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the north-east giants are unlikely to have huge capacity after their PSR issues. 

Borson previously told Football Insider Newcastle could generate up to £100million in prize money if they qualify for the Champions League and compete well in the competition next season.

Newcastle posted a record-breaking revenue last season after their turnover increased from £250million in 2022-23 to £320million, while their losses before tax fell dramatically from £72million to £11million across the same period. 

Newcastle numbers adjusted after Uefa reveal

Borson revealed Newcastle have more of an issue with Uefa than the Premier League after their financial figures were adjusted last season.

He told Football Insider: “They are another club where the spending is going to be dictated by Champions League qualification.

“It is looking likely, so I think they are going to get Champions League.

“If you take the January dealing as an indicator and just take them at their word in terms of what they said just last week, I think Eddie Howe said he didn’t want to sell Lloyd Kelly, but they needed to because of PSR. 

“I think it’s pretty clear that they had no capacity from a PSR perspective for this season. I don’t think they’re going to breach, but it means almost certainly that they’re going to next season be at the limit.

“Obviously, you’ll have the year that drops out – the third year back – but they’ve not got huge capacity from a PSR perspective, and they’ve been very keen not to breach PSR. On top of that, they do have an issue with Uefa that they’ve disclosed themselves. 

“If you look in the back of their accounts, they tell you that their own numbers are adjusted for Uefa purposes by £30million last season and I think it was by another €23million (£19.6million), but it’s about €50million (£42.6million) across the two years in adjustments.

“From a Uefa perspective, they’re much worse on the Uefa numbers than they are for their Premier League numbers. They have disclosed that, that’s their numbers, so they’re quite tight on all of this stuff.

“It depends where they put their priority. I don’t think they’re going to sell. There is all this talk about selling Isak. I don’t believe that.

“I can’t see who’s got the money to do that deal, and if you’re not selling your best players or you haven’t got a young player to sell for a big profit, then you’re going to be restrained if you’re at the limits.” 

Alexander Isak to stay at Newcastle after stance revealed

Football Insider revealed on 19 April Newcastle are set to price rivals out of signing Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal and Liverpool have watched the forward closely and are interested in making a mega-money move for the Sweden international.

However, with Newcastle well placed to qualify for the Champions League, they are in a position to refuse offers for the 25-year-old this summer.

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