Newcastle coach Eddie Howe has accused his team’s rivals of artificially inflating the price of their players after the club was frustrated on transfer deadline day.
The Magpies fell short in their pursuit of several targets, including Leeds winger Jack Harrison, Leicester midfielder James Maddison, West Ham defender Harrison Ashby and Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
To Howe the reason none of those players are with Newcastle is clear: the club’s never-ending supply of Saudi money.
When asked if domestic clubs were making it difficult on his team, Howe told a press conference: “That’s true, I would say so. That was definitely something we felt in the market. Domestic clubs didn’t want to be seen to be helping us. We’ll have to take that, that is part of where we are at the moment.
“We have certainly found there is no one there ready to do us a favor. It’s the narrative regarding us that has changed. If there is anything domestically, teams will put their price up if it is Newcastle. That is the same around the world, that is something we are having to deal with.
“That is why we have walked away from a few deals because I think it is important we are not seen as that club that will pay what is asked. I think it has to be fair.”
Despite the deals that didn’t go through, Newcastle spent a fair amount in its first summer window since being taken over by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia last October.
Newcastle spent around £130 million on players, including £60m on striker Alexander Isak, while they didn’t generate any income on player sales.
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