Newcastle would’ve had to pay £50m up front to sign ‘exceptional’ player likened to Cristiano Ronaldo

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Newcastle United have been unable to splash the cash so far during this summer’s transfer window.

It has been a tough transfer window for the Magpies, despite four fresh faces arriving at St James’ Park.

Lloyd Kelly, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Will Osula have all joined Newcastle United, with the latter costing an initial £10million from Sheffield United.

But Newcastle are yet to really splash out, despite their desire to sign a right winger and a right-sided centre-back.

As it stands, most of the budget could go towards the latter, with Newcastle trying to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. He will be very expensive, with Steve Parish stating it will cost ‘superstar money’ to sign Guehi.

Newcastle are struggling to agree a deal that could be worth more than £60million, which is further evidence that they simply had no chance of bringing Nico Williams to St James’ Park.

Why Newcastle would have struggled to sign Nico Williams

The 22-year-old has been linked with Newcastle during this summer’s transfer window. The Athletic reported in June that Williams’ name had came up in the Magpies’ recruitment meetings, with the attacker having been linked with Newcastle in the past.

But Newcastle understood that Williams’ wage demands would be too high for them, while another problem has emerged that likely would have stopped Toon officials from bringing the Spain international to St James’ Park if wages were not an issue.

According to the Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur were also interested in signing Nico Williams. However, they report that Spurs were told that Williams’ £50million release clause would need to be paid in one lump sum.

That was a problem for Tottenham, and you have to imagine it would have been a problem for Newcastle United too.

While Newcastle can probably afford to sign someone for £50million, that is different to paying £50million for a player in just one immediate instalment.

Newcastle are missing out on an ‘exceptional’ talent

Williams’ wages were going to be an issue, and the transfer fee would have been problematic as well.

Combine those factors with Newcastle’s lack of European football and Williams’ breath taking displays at Euro 2024 and it is no surprise that the Magpies never made a proper move to sign him from Athletic Bilbao.

It is such a shame, as Williams is the type of blockbuster signing that Newcastle United fans would love PIF to make. Imagine him alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in attack…

But Newcastle missed their chance to sign Williams. His talent is not a secret anymore, with Williams proving to be one of Spain’s best players as they won the European Championship.

He certainly impressed Wayne Rooney, who described Williams as ‘exceptional‘. Rooney even admitted that he sees similarities between Williams and a young Cristiano Ronaldo.

That is incredibly high praise for a player that Newcastle have been linked with since January 2023.