Newcastle United do not need to look too far for the dangers of overspending in the transfer market. The turmoil at Chelsea under new owner Todd Boehly has been one of the stories of the season so far, with the Blues languishing in 11th in the Premier League following a dismal campaign to date.
Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have both been dismissed this term, with Frank Lampard returning for a second spell in the dugout on an interim basis. Boehly has sanctioned a colossal spend in excess of £600 million across the first two transfer windows, but results have not followed on the pitch.
Revelations since Potter's departure have outlined the difficulties in accommodating such a large squad, with a number of players missing out on Chelsea's Champions League squad. Thiago Silva addressed these concerns on the back of their midweek quarter-final exit to Real Madrid, calling for a 'strategy' to avoid the 'same mistakes' next term.
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Newcastle's owners have not been shy in spending since the takeover in October 2021, with an outlay in excess of £200 million across three windows. However, the Magpies' hierarchy have repeatedly stressed caution with regards to FFP and their reluctance to overspend on any deals.
Recent reports indicate Newcastle's intention to capitalise on potential European football next season by targeting 'elite' additions in the summer. This shift in strategy would almost certainly demand higher fees, and Silva's comments illustrate the steps to avoid when it comes to building a squad.
Speaking after the second-leg defeat, Silva told the Evening Standard: “I think the first step has been made, an incorrect step, but it has been made. We can’t be blaming the managers if we don’t take responsibility.
"It’s a hard period for the club, with a lot of indecision. Change of ownership, new players arriving – we had to increase the size of the changing room because it didn’t fit the size of the squad.
“A positive point is that there are amazing players in the squad but on the other hand there are always players that are going to be unhappy. There is always going to be someone upset because not everyone can play. The manager can only pick 11 from a squad of 30-something – that’s tough.
“Some can’t make the squad, we signed eight in January, we need to stop and put a strategy in place otherwise next season we could make the same mistakes.”
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