As Newcastle United struggle to make new signings, Liverpool are aiming to break the British transfer record on Florian Wirtz.
The Premier League champions are looking to build on this season’s success, and it had been suggested that Liverpool thought they could sign Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle United striker currently looks set to remain on Tyneside, while Liverpool take their money elsewhere.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have verbally agreed a deal worth £127million to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. That would make him Liverpool’s most expensive player ever, and the most expensive player in the history of British football.
In comparison, Newcastle’s most expensive signing is Isak, who cost £63million in August 2022.
Jurgen Klopp said Newcastle United had ‘no ceiling’
As Liverpool get set to splash out on Wirtz, what former manager Jurgen Klopp once said about Newcastle United suddenly feels all the more relevant.
Upon his arrival as sporting director, Dan Ashworth stated in 2022 that the Magpies had no ceiling in terms of their ambition.
In response to that claim, Klopp told the media in October 2022: “He is absolutely right, there is no ceiling for Newcastle. Congratulations. Some other clubs have ceilings.”
While Ashworth was merely talking about the scope of what Newcastle United want to achieve, Klopp was focussed on the Magpies’ wealth thanks to the riches of PIF.
The last time Newcastle United made a major signing
Newcastle were not happy with Klopp’s comments, and the Magpies’ recent history in the transfer market proves how wrong the 57-year-old was. While Liverpool get ready to break their transfer record for Wirtz, Newcastle continue to be held back by PSR.
Newcastle United have not made a major signing since the summer of 2023, with Lewis Hall arriving on loan before joining permanently 12 months later. Paul Mitchell endured a frustrating 2024 summer transfer window, and the 2025 edition is yet to burst into life.
The Premier League’s financial rules have limited the Magpies’ ability to invest, despite technically having the richest owners in world football. While PIF have a lot of money, they are restricted on how much they can spend on new players for Eddie Howe.
PIF want Newcastle to be an elite club. The aim is to consistently challenge for honours and play in the Champions League. In that sense, there is no ceiling to what PIF want the Magpies to achieve.
However, those ambitions are being suppressed by a financial ceiling that has been imposed by the Premier League.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
