Newcastle United will have to operate with a limited budget in the summer transfer window if no takeover happens over the next few months, as reported by the Chronicle.
This time last year, the Magpies were being tipped to sign some of the biggest names in European football.
Philippe Coutinho, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nabil Fekir and more were reported targets for a Newcastle side who, at the time, were dreaming of a return to the upper echelons of the Premier League.
Flash forward 12 months, however, and Newcastle are still under the ownership of Mike Ashley, waking up from their Saudi Arabian dream to face the harsh reality of yet another relegation dogfight.
Sources from the North East suggest that, unless Amanda Stavely returns to the table and makes Ashley an offer he simply cannot refuse, it will be another grey and drizzly summer on Tyneside.
The Chronicle claims that Steve Bruce – should he keep his job of course – faces the unenviable task of revamping a struggling side on a shoestring budget.
With that in mind, it seems distinctly unlikely that Newcastle will be unveiling a new, top-quality centre-forward – one capable of easing the goal-scoring burden on Callum Wilson – any time soon.
The dynamic box-to-box midfielder Bruce has wanted since 2019 may be little more than a pipe dream too.
So Joelinton’s status as the club’s record signing looks as safe as houses with short-term loanees and bargain freebies likely to be the order of the day once again.
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