Eddie Howe confirms transfer targets stance if Newcastle United miss out on Champions League

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Newcastle United are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League.

The Magpies’ fate is in their own hands, as they aim to bring Champions League football back to St James’ Park.

That would be a massive achievement for Eddie Howe’s side. Winning the Carabao Cup has already made this an unforgettable campaign, and securing Champions League qualification would be the icing on the cake.

It could also play a huge part in Newcastle’s summer plans. After all, St James’ Park is a more appealing place to play for prospective signings if the Magpies can offer Champions League football.

Whether Champions League qualification impacts Newcastle United’s transfer plans

However, Eddie Howe does not expect the club’s targets to change if they fail to finish in the top five of the Premier League.

Ahead of Newcastle United vs Chelsea, Howe was asked what kind of impact Champions League qualification will have on his transfer plans.

“I don’t know the intricacies of our financial position depending on Champions League qualification,” he said during his pre-match press conference.

“I don’t think it changes too much in terms of our targets and who we’ll look to try and sign, just because we’re trying to go for the best players in a very small pool of players to pick from.

“It’s where we want to be. It’s where we want to play. We want to be in the highest level competition we can. We want to test ourselves to the absolute maximum and try to recreate those great nights here.”

Newcastle United will have to alter their transfer approach

Newcastle want at least three signings this summer, with a winger, centre-back and goalkeeper on the agenda. But while the Magpies’ targets may remain the same, the chance of completing all of their desired business will decrease.

That is because Newcastle will have to be more cautious with their spending. If they are in the Europa League or the Conference League, they will receive less money compared to being in the Champions League.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	35	25	7	3	81	35	46	82
2	ArsenalArsenal	35	18	13	4	64	31	33	67
3	Man CityManchester City	35	19	7	9	67	43	24	64
4	NewcastleNewcastle	35	19	6	10	66	45	21	63
5	ChelseaChelsea	35	18	9	8	62	41	21	63
6	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	35	18	7	10	54	42	12	61
7	Aston VillaAston Villa	35	17	9	9	55	49	6	60

Therefore, Newcastle’s PSR picture will change.

Newcastle are already worried about Bryan Mbeumo’s price tag, and those concerns will only intensify if they do not finish in the top five.

The club will also have concerns over the futures of some of their top stars if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Fortunately for Newcastle, they are not far away from confirming a top five finish. If they beat Chelsea on Sunday, they will only need one more win from their remaining two games.

That is why Newcastle’s game against Chelsea is absolutely massive, not that anyone needs reminding of that fact.