Eddie Howe acknowledges challenges of being labeled ‘world’s richest club’ for Newcastle United, following tough decision to sell star player Allan Saint-Maximin to comply with FFP regulations

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Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle United struggle with the ā€˜worldā€™s richest clubā€™ tag brought about by their Saudi Arabian ownership.

The 46-year-old was appointed Toon manager in November 2021, shortly after a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund [PIF] paid Ā£300million to buy the club from Mike Ashley.

Given PIFā€™s colossal wealth, it made Newcastle the worldā€™s wealthiest club at a stroke and Howe would lead them to a fourth place finish and Champions League qualification in 2022-23.

But Howe has argued that status is also a hindrance and that Newcastle had to sell popular winger Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli last summer to meet Financial Fair Play obligations.

ā€˜Whenever you hear Newcastle mentioned externally in the media, itā€™s always the ā€˜richest club in the worldā€™ tag that goes next to it,ā€™ Howe told The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.

Eddie Howe has claimed Newcastle Unitedā€™s ā€˜worldā€™s richest clubā€™ tag can be a hindrance

Newcastle's Saudi Arabian chairmanĀ Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Amanda Staveley pictured at St James' Park shortly after their October 2021 takeover

Newcastleā€™s Saudi Arabian chairmanĀ Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Amanda Staveley pictured at St Jamesā€™ Park shortly after their October 2021 takeover

Howe is welcomed to Newcastle by Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi after his appointment as manager

Howe is welcomed to Newcastle by Staveley and husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi after his appointment as managerĀ 

Howe spoke to Gary Neville in the latest episode of The Overlap this week

Howe spoke to Gary Neville in the latest episode of The Overlap this week

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ā€˜Thatā€™s been difficult for us, because thereā€™s always been that pressure on us even though weā€™re not living that reality. Weā€™ve had to battle that; the players have handled that really well.

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ā€˜Iā€™ve come from a club like Bournemouth that had to invest to grow, so I think if the owner has the money and wants to invest in a safe way and put the money into the club, then why canā€™t he spend that money?

ā€˜I think thatā€™s how football clubs should work ā€“ we donā€™t want to see clubs getting into financial problems long-term, but if that money is ringfenced then they should be able to use it.ā€™

Having spent Ā£55m on Sandro Tonali, Ā£28m on Harvey Barnes and Ā£35m on Tino Livramento last summer, Newcastle were forced to balance the books and sold French star Saint-Maximin to Saudi club Al-Ahli for Ā£23m.

ā€˜Maxi was a player that I absolutely loved,ā€™ said Howe.

ā€˜He was slightly different to the conventional wingers that maybe Iā€™ve had in the past, he is an absolute maverick and magician with the ball.

ā€˜We were accommodating him, his strengths, and weaknesses within the team, loved working with him.

ā€˜Financial Fair Play was hitting is, so we had to lose Maxi at that moment, and I think it was probably his time to leave, for him as well.

Star man Allan Saint-Maximin was sold to Saudi club Al-Ahli last summer to meet FFP needs

Star man Allan Saint-Maximin was sold to Saudi club Al-Ahli last summer to meet FFP needs

ā€˜Then of course youā€™re looking to replace a player that was a difference-maker ā€“ you could never go like-for-like, I donā€™t know another Allan Saint-Maximin, with his qualities, so you have to fine someone different ā€“ Anthony [Gordon, signed for Ā£45m in January 2023].

ā€˜Thatā€™s probably where we are, weā€™re recruiting players at the moment that are up and coming, who havenā€™t hit their best levels yet, trying to get them early and develop them and grow into those players.ā€™

Howe said buying players at that crucial stage in their development and polishing them up into the finished product suits his outlook as a coach.

Howe has admitted it was tough to sell Saint-Maximin, who he described as a 'magician'

Howe has admitted it was tough to sell Saint-Maximin, who he described as a ā€˜magicianā€™

ā€˜For my way of working, I think those players fit my style well,ā€™ he added.

ā€˜Youā€™re developing them and growing them in a certain way, moulding them into your style so they can fit into the team model the best way possible.

ā€˜If you have a finishing product, there isnā€™t much moulding to do there.

ā€˜I donā€™t think that means that there isnā€™t a place for a superstar, however you want to bracket that player, a difference-maker, I think you can accommodate them as well, but where we are at the moment, with the constraints weā€™re working under, thatā€™s the best way for us to work.ā€™

Newcastle are currently sixth in the Premier League table and could qualify for next seasonā€™s UEFA Europa League.

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