A fortnight ago, there were fears inside the club that a double-digit points deduction was possible given the scale of their deficit
Premier League clubs speculated that Newcastle’s black hole was anywhere between £30m and £100m and, by Saturday morning, Newcastle still needed to recoup in excess of £50m
Whether Newcastle have satisfied PSR remains unclear given the opaque nature of the system, although some insiders believe they have done enough to avoid a points deduction, even if the calculation is believed to be tight
Minteh was seen as part of the solution for weeks, but Lyon’s £40m offer led to Newcastle holding out for that valuation, despite the player being reluctant to move and the club aggressively attempting to convince him to
Rival clubs tried to capitalise on perceived vulnerability, with Chelseamaking enquiries about Isak, though Newcastle explored every alternative avenue to keep the striker
Conversations with Liverpool over Gordon came out of desperation, despite Newcastle wanting to retain the winger, but there are lingering fears internally that his head may have been turned
Newcastle did explore the Saudi Pro League avenue but could not conclude any deals
Several transfer meetings were held across the week, including a final one on Sunday afternoon, when a third sale was contemplated, with Kieran Trippier’s name floated just hours before he started for England against Slovakia at Euro 2024
Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson are other players believed to have been floated as possible exits
Newcastle had reluctantly identified Anderson as a candidate for sale in January given he generates “pure profit” as an academy graduate, but he was injured
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah, Forest’s Anthony Elanga and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Max Kilman were among the players Newcastle discussed signing as part of potential deals
Newcastle actually now have decent capacity to spend given 2021-22’s accounts have dropped off the PSR cycle and income from their Adidas deal can be booked
It's a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his fathers hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love. - Sir Bobby Robson