Eddie Howe has underlined the importance of having a "strong hand" on Newcastle United's transfer business this summer - after a week in which there have been suggestions of the club being offered expensive stars Neymar and Ronaldo.
It's not the first time either player have been linked with the Magpies since the takeover went through but with Newcastle now having much more financial muscle than the dark days of Mike Ashley, it is inevitable that agents around the world will continue to test the water with big-name players. But Howe is eager to build a squad with the same identity as the one that impressively turn a relegation battle into a Champions League challenge in the space of a year.
When asked about the transfer strategy, Howe told Chronicle Live: "It comes down to financials. I don't think we are in a position where we can with FFP impacting what we are able to do.
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"It has impacted what we have been able to do in every window so far. Certainly from a financial perspective it rules that out at this moment in time."
Howe has a strong recruitment team around him these days with sporting director Dan Ashworth, head of UK scouting Andy Howe and head of recruitment Steve Nickson all around him. But like former bosses such as Rafa Benitez and Kevin Keegan having the final say is important.
Howe added: "In order for a football club to be truly successful over a long period of time I think as the head coach you need to have a very strong hand on transfers. Ultimately the players have to come into your style of play.
"They have to come into your way of working, they have to fit your philosophy. I think only somebody in my position can understand what that is.
"Now you need a very good recruitment team, you need the right players presented to you. But I think then you have to pick wisely, me and my coaching team spend a lot of time trying to identify the right players."
Newcastle currently sit on 65 points with another 15 to play for and they could even better their best ever points tally back in 1996 if they kept on winning. Certainly, they are on course to beat the final tally of 1996/97 (68), 2001/02 (71) and 2002/03 (69).
When asked if a record points tally was a motivation for him, Howe said: "I wouldn't say that it is a big motivation for me. But I think when you hear little things like that it might be extra motivation for the players.
"I think for me I purely look game by game and try to win the game. "Then like I have said - it probably bores you - we will see where we end up at the end of the season.
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