‘I’ve been told’… Newcastle could put themselves at risk of FFP sanction if they sign £15m player

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Newcastle United have been warned by journalist Dean Jones that they could risk breaching FFP sanctions if they sign Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy for £15m in January.

Guirassy has been setting the Bundesliga alight with Stuttgart this season and has attracted interest from a number of top clubs, including Newcastle.

On the Ranks FC podcast, Dean Jones revealed how Newcastle are already getting close to their spending limit under FFP and that Guirassy’s fee may prove to be too much for their budget.

Newcastle have to be careful with FFP rule

It’s been well reported that Newcastle don’t yet have the spending power of Manchester United or Manchester City, even if their owners do have more money in the bank than both of them combined.

The issue is that FFP only allows you to spend what you bring in through transfers or commercial deals and the likes, so Newcastle are currently restricted as they head into this crucial transfer window where they are desperate for reinforcements.

Guirassy’s name has been mentioned more than once as Newcastle look to add the Stuttgart attacker to their ranks, but the £15m fee that has been suggested would still be steep for the Magpies.

It may not seem like a high price, but Jones has revealed why the fee poses a problem for Newcastle when it comes to FFP.

On the podcast, Jones said: “They’re having to be very cautious of their Financial Fair Play position and that includes even cheap deals because they have to be careful about when they are spending cash.

“So, yes they do want a forward, and yes they have been offered Guirassy of Stuttgart. But, even at £15m, I’m led to believe that is all in one hit and so that could and, look I’m not an expert on Newcastle’s finances, I’m giving you second-hand information that I’ve been told by somebody else, that could put them in danger of touching an area of Financial Fair Play they don’t want to get close to.”

Guirassy has more goals than Newcastle’s top scorers combined

Guirassy has been the surprise story of the season after enjoying an incredible start to Stuttgart’s Bundesliga campaign in which he has netted 16 times in just 11 games.

To put that into perspective, Guirassy has more goals for Stuttgart than Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have combined for Newcastle in the Premier League, both of them scoirng seven times.

There’s a good chance Newcastle’s strikers would have more goals if it wasn’t for their poor injury record, which is exactly why Eddie Howe is keen to add to his attacking ranks in the first place.

Whether they can still attract the 27-year-old with the offer of being a third-choice striker as well as their FFP issues remains to be seen, but Guirassy is certainly a talented goalscorer.