Newcastle to 'spend most of approximate £100m budget on two top-tier, elite players'

 Despite being constricted by FFP in terms of how much they can expect to spend this summer, Newcastle will reportedly push the boundaries with two particularly high-quality signings

Not even a return to the Champions League will convince Newcastle United to spend outside their means this summer.

The Magpies will be back in Europe's first-tier competition for the first time in two decades next season after Eddie Howe guided the club to fourth in the Premier League. But 'the richest football club in the world' is still eager to stick to a £100million spending limit, which will see them prioritise 'elite players'.

That's according to The Athletic, who suggested the current recruitment period will very much be about adding quality over quantity. Eddie Howe's side already proved last term they can compete with the best in England's class, but juggling a Champions League campaign will pile untold pressure on the squad.

Newcastle broke their transfer record last summer when they signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for £63m. And that followed a period of steady splurging by the club after being taken over by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in late 2021.

In fact, Newcastle have spent in the region of £250m in three windows since their Saudi rulers purchased the club. And balancing the books doesn't appear to have been the chief priority during that chase for Europe considering they've only sold around £20m worth of talent in the same span.

That won't be allowed to continue, however, hence the reason for a budget despite their return to Europe's promised land. But not every window can be expected to include a record-breaking transfer like last year's move for Isak.

For that reason, the club will do its best to stick to the £100m limit, though the Athletic warned they 'have pushed things in every other window when circumstances have demanded it'.

Despite wanting to upgrade the current options at St. James' Park, Newcastle still aren't expected to sell off much of the current crop in the coming weeks. And unless that changes, the budget for new arrivals will remain largely the same.

England midfielder James Maddison has been repeatedly touted as Howe's top target after he was relegated with Leicester this past season. Champions League runner-up Nicolo Barella is said to be closing in on a £50m move, meanwhile, which would already account for half of the alleged war chest.

The rest of Newcastle's summer haul will be made up of 'bargains and perhaps loans', which could still prove to be important signings in the short and long term. By regaining entry to Europe's top table, St. James' Park is a much more attractive destination for a higher calibre of player.

Howe has already added one budget-friendly name to his squad after completing a £6m move for 18-year-old Yankuba Minteh. The Gambian winger won't make an impact this term, however, after agreeing to spend the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Eredivisie champions Feyenoord.

Fans can look forward to more ready-made recruits arriving in the months to come, however, in an exciting - albeit pragmatic - time for Newcastle.