John Barnes has claimed top players will not want to sign for Newcastle United this summer. The former Magpies winger thinks talk of attracting Europe's elite is premature while the club lingers in the bottom half of the Premier League.
A frantic January window saw Newcastle lure England regular Kieran Trippier from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid and pip Arsenal to the signing of Bruno Guimaraes. But several targets - namely Sven Botman and Diego Carlos - remained put due to United’s precarious league position.
With the threat of relegation now obsolete, the Magpies’ task of selling the Tyneside dream has become easier. However, Barnes thinks the days of signing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still a long way from reality.
READ MORE: £58million transfer battle that may see Newcastle battle with Arsenal again
“Newcastle have to walk before they can run,” he told BonusCodesBets. “They’re not going to be signing the best players in the world suddenly because there are bigger clubs than Newcastle. Newcastle can’t spend more money than Liverpool or pay higher salaries. They have the money, but they’re not allowed to spend it.
“The idea of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a Newcastle shirt is wrong, because if any of the top players in the world become available, they’ll still go to Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG or Manchester United, before Newcastle.
“They must grow slowly, get better players, and in two or three years, when they show they’re competing, that’s when they can move for the big players. Next year they should look to push into the top 10, and in a few years, they can look for Europe. It won’t happen overnight.”
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