Paul Merson believes Newcastle United fans will be 'disappointed' by reports suggesting the owners have set a budget of £60m for the summer transfer window. The Magpies were the biggest spenders in Europe in January, splashing in excess of £90m to secure five signings.
A recent nine-match unbeaten run has helped Eddie Howe's side pull nine points clear of the relegation zone, although the head coach insists they remain in a battle for survival. Newcastle face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, before three consecutive home clashes with Wolves, Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
Having discussed United's potential approach in the capital, the discussion moved on to the summer transfer window and a reported failed January move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Here is what the panel of Michael Dawson, Merson, Clinton Morrison, Tim Sherwood and presenter Jeff Stelling had to say about Newcastle on Soccer Saturday.
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MD: I think they [Tottenham] will beat Newcastle tomorrow, but I think consistency...
PM: Burnley away...
MD: That's why fourth spot hasn't been nailed down. Inconsistent teams.
PM: I think Newcastle is a hard game. I watched them at Chelsea the other week and they're decent. They are better than I thought they were, if I'm being honest.
I think this is a hard game, they will play exactly how West Ham should have played. They will sit back and they've got pace on the counter to hurt Tottenham.
MD: That's where Spurs can struggle sometimes, getting in behind teams.
PM: Chelsea never really looked like scoring against Newcastle for long periods of that game.
TS: Especially with Tottenham at home and the expectancy is they've had a few results, Newcastle coming to town struggling towards the bottom. Alright, they have picked up through Eddie.
Take the game to them, we will win this game two or three-nil. It ain't going to be as easy as that. Eddie will put provisions in for Harry Kane.
I think they will sit deeper, get in and around Harry Kane. Son at the moment, every time Harry gets on the ball he is on his bike. He's sliding it into his path.
Son and Kane can play for any team in the world, they are that good. When you have those two playing for you, you've always got a chance.
JS: Clinton, do you feel when we talk about Eddie Howe saying we're not safe yet, is that just his way to keep them motivated? Because they are safe, aren't they?
CM: 100%, they are safe. They've done brilliant to be fair. There is talk about Trippier maybe coming back soon, he's training. Callum Wilson is not far away.
They've done this without two of their best players, they have been outstanding. The signings that Eddie Howe brought in January, everyone looked at them and thought it's not the signings we expected at Newcastle.
The signings have been brilliant, Bruno in midfield and Dan Burn at the back. Even Chris Wood, even though he hasn't scored the goals, he's been that focal point up front where he holds it. He causes defenders all sorts of problems.
I think Merse made a point on air a couple of weeks ago, if you're Newcastle you just want to finish in around 12th-13th. If you finish any higher, the owners aren't going to spend their money.
I think they will spend their money and try and kick on next season and get a top-half finish, and try and win a cup competition. That's what Newcastle fans want to see, the good times coming back.
When I remember playing against them and going to St James' Park, the atmosphere used to be fantastic. It's a fantastic football club.
You've got to give credit to Eddie Howe. We all sat here and thought when he went in, it's a big job and is he the right person to go in there and turn it around?
I can guarantee you we've all sat on here and said Newcastle haven't been good enough, we were worried they'll get relegated. They were really struggling, and January came at the right time where he spent really good money and brought in decent players. Credit to him, and they've gone up the table.
JS: They have but Merse talked about them spending money and kicking on and winning a cup, but the club said this week they're only going to spend £60m in the summer. Is that a smokescreen or to lower expectations among fans, players, agents?
PM: You'd be disappointed if you were a Newcastle fan if they're only going to spend £60m. £60m won't get you anywhere, in this day and age if you're not being bought for over £40m, you're a pretty average player.
JS: They are talking about three or four better players.
PM: Really? For £60m? Nah.
JS: One of the reasons they quote is to keep a grip on the Financial Fair Play situation..
TS: To be fair, they can get better players for £60m than what they've got.
PM: How many are they going to get?
TS: There ain't too many good players at that club. Before Eddie went in there, they were disgraceful.
PM: If you want to bring in three players, that's £20m a player. Where are you getting them?
MD: They paid £25m for Chris Wood!
TS: Dan Burn was a fantastic signing. The incentive should be for those players to want to be part of this project moving forward, they have got to improve. Try and get rid of the ones they've got, the ones who are not playing.
PM: They will be disappointed the Newcastle fans, I was at Chelsea the other week and their fans were unbelievable. My boy is still singing the Newcastle songs now, that's how good they were.
I talked to a Newcastle fan [watching] England the other day, and I said your fans are unbelievable and all this and that. He said only just now, it had been a bit quiet under Mike Ashley.
Now it's picked up, they need to carry that on. They have a belief these fans, they think it's going to kick on. £60m will kick you on up to 14th, it will. I'm not being horrible.
JS: They brought in Kieran Trippier for £12m, I know he's in his thirties but there are players out there.
CM: They need to sign better than what they've got. It's going to cost a lot more than £60m if they're going to bring in three or four players.
TS: They can do it with free transfers, but the wages are extortionate. To get those players in of a different quality, and that's probably what they're looking at.
Some of the guys might be out there, whether it's homegrown players or players from overseas, they will come to the club and be paid a fortune.
JS: It emerged this week Newcastle tried to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in January. Potentially, he would be one because he's a bit-part player at Liverpool with all due respect.
MD: Yeah, but when we sat on here in January and talked about Dan Burn who I think has been sensational for them. Then we are talking about going to the next level where we all thought Newcastle were going to be.
£60m is not enough, that's one player. We thought that the money Newcastle had, that's what they were going to spend. I completely understand FFP, Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a slight improvement on what they have got there.
Kieran Trippier, you bring him back for now, for survival. That looks like it's going to happen, Newcastle still have a goal and focus. You can soon lose three or four games and start looking over your shoulder. Brighton are two points ahead of Newcastle, we were raving about them about two months ago.
So it can happen, but I think Newcastle are in a good position. They will attract players because it's a great place to go and play, and it also helps you'll be earning a few quid.
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