Having reportedly missed out on signing Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea this summer, it’s now been shared why Newcastle United were reluctant to up their bid.
Eddie Howe’s squad needs investment this summer, and not only because of the amount of injuries suffered last season.
Newcastle seems well-positioned to keep both Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak this summer, their two stars often linked with an exit.
But the club have seemingly done enough to convince both that they can realise their ambitions at Newcastle.
However, Howe’s team will need to add players this summer in order to come good on those promises, with this Newcastle squad still lacking in several areas.
Of course, the signing of soon-to-be free agent Tosin Adarabioyo would have been an excellent start, a player who could push both Fabian Schar and Sven Botman when fit.
But Chelsea have stolen the march, convincing Adarabioyo to choose Enzo Maresca’s new project owing to the European football it entails.
However, from Newcastle’s point of view, it seems they were eventually reluctant to enter a bidding war anyway.
Chelsea turned Tosin Adarabioyo’s head but Newcastle’s recruitment team have other plans
According to a report by The Northern Echo, Newcastle refused to make an improved counter-offer when learning of Chelsea’s advances last week.
On paper, Adarabioyo looked like the perfect signing for Howe, but the club refused to chase a deal in fear of compromising their adherence to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Newcastle’s recruitment team were also reluctant to commit too much of their spending to the deal, aware that they have other areas of the squad to improve as well.
And as stated previously, Newcastle felt as if their initial offer was an attractive one, and were not interested in competing with Chelsea financially.
Fortunately, the same report confirms that Howe and his team are still confident of signing Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly as a free agent later this month.
Reuniting with his old boss, Kelly will offer Newcastle some much-needed versatility at the back, a player who would probably cost in excess of £20m when under contract.
So whilst it remains a shame that Newcastle aren’t expected to complete a double-swoop for Adarabioyo as well, fans will probably be pleased to see the club won’t be taken advantage of.
All that being said, Newcastle could actually get a £135m FFP boost as early as next week.