Mike Ashley to Give Steve Bruce £80m Transfer Budget If Newcastle Avoid Relegation

​Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is set to give manager Steve Bruce a transfer budget of up to £80m providing they don't get relegated from the Premier League this season.

The Magpies spent in excess of £70m last summer, most notably on the signing of Brazilian forward Joelinton, who cost £40m. His signing broke the transfer record for the club, which had been previously the £21m capture of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United in January 2019.

Joelinton

And according to the ​Chronicle, Ashley is planning to give Bruce a further £80m to spend on transfers in the summer. The owner is keen to continue investing in order to improve the quality of players at the club.

The 55-year-old has been criticised in the past for not giving previous ​Newcastle managers a big enough budget to bring in new signings. But £80m would be a sizeable amount of money for considerable investment in multiple areas.

Newcastle could certainly do with the money given the lack of quality in various positions. Their attack especially needs improving if the club want to push higher up the ​Premier League table and compete with the likes of ​Sheffield United and ​Wolves.

The big attacking investment made last summer was a sign of intent from the Magpies. Joelinton was not the only big-money signing, as winger Allan Saint-Maximin also joined for an initial £16m that could rise up to £20m with add-ons. 

Allan Saint-Maximin

Unpopular owner Ashley has been previously unwilling to open up the purse for former managers, and Bruce's predecessors didn't receive as much backing in the market, and more significant investment would be a welcome change.

Time will tell if the money is spent wisely and whether it will indeed propel Newcastle higher up the table.

The club have long been linked with takeovers from various parties, but a deal has never materialised.


Source : 90min