Newcastle United's attempts to bring in further firepower this summer will be boosted by the club's ability to pay transfer fees in instalments - which was not the policy in the Ashley era.
The previous regime felt that paying fees up front was in the club's long-term interests as it gave Newcastle certainty over spending in future windows. Derek Llambias, Newcastle's former managing director, even went as far as to say that it was a 'far healthier financial model'.
Mike Ashley very rarely deviated from this policy, but the former owner made an exception last summer so Newcastle could sign Joe Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal. Newcastle did not have enough money to pay the fee up front so, in the words of former head coach Steve Bruce, the Magpies 'broke all our transfer rules for the last few years' by spreading the payment out, which was 'not the policy of the club'.
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This is nothing revolutionary - most if not all Premier League clubs operate this way - but doing so on a more regular basis will potentially give Newcastle greater flexibility in the transfer market rather than being limited by the policy of paying everything up front. Newcastle, after all, have to be smart with each deal they do at a time when the club are trying to boost revenues and strike commercial deals to allow the Magpies to spend even more while complying with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations.
Newcastle have already signed Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett this summer and Eddie Howe's priority is to bring in another striker and right winger before the window shuts. Targets like Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak and Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby won't come cheap, of course, but Newcastle at least are more open to paying fees instalments now, which may yet prove significant - whoever comes in.
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