Eddie Howe insists Newcastle United don't 'have the ability' to spend significantly this summer despite qualifying for the Champions League. The Magpies secured their top four finish with a 0-0 draw against Leicester on Monday, prompting wild celebrations both inside St James' Park and across the city.
Attention will soon turn to the summer transfer market and which players can strengthen Howe's already impressive squad even further. However, while many may think the Magpies have the ability to spend at will, the Newcastle boss has played down talk of a full-scale revamp on Tyneside and will instead opt for minimal changes.
“It won’t be huge numbers," Howe said after his side booked their place at Europe's top table next season. "I don’t think it can be.
READ MORE: Staveley's Champions League response, familiar faces return and John Terry fumes in Newcastle draw
"We don’t have the ability to spend the money people will think we have, so we’re going to have to be very smart. It’ll be a small group of players, but ones we think can make a difference."
Dan Ashworth will have a list of transfer targets drawn up as Newcastle attempt to ensure this season wasn't a flash in the pan. The calibre of talent the Magpies can now target has been raised significantly but Howe believes that brings a different kind of challenge.
"Our early look into the transfer market, there's a very small pool of players to look at," he told Sky Sports. "We have to recruit wisely, as we have done in every transfer window to date. This will be our toughest one.
"We’ve got try and get it right, and that’s going to underpin our success, really. I think we’ve been really, really good in the three transfer windows so far. The challenge gets harder and more difficult, because now we’ve become abetter team there’s less players that will make us better so it’s going to be a big window for us."
READ NEXT
Jason Tindall's Champions League message and strong response to Twitter storm
Eddie Howe pays special tribute to Newcastle United fans who stuck with team through 'dark days'
Newcastle United one step closer to achieving Bruno Guimaraes and Amanda Staveley's ambitious vision
Staveley's Champions League response, familiar faces return and John Terry fumes in Newcastle draw
Eddie Howe well aware of what Newcastle's lofty finish means ahead of next term
