Newcastle United have not had a better opportunity to bring Champions League football to St. James’ Park in the last 15 years, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has told GiveMeSport.
Eddie Howe’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table during the break for the World Cup.
It has been just over a year since the Saudi Public Investment Fund completed their takeover of Newcastle in October 2021, with the side sitting second-from-bottom in the Premier League under the management of Steve Bruce at the time.
The owners swiftly replaced the 61-year-old and appointed former Bournemouth manager Howe, who guided the Magpies to Premier League survival with ease, with the Tyneside club eventually finishing 11th.
Having spent £210m on eight new players since the takeover, the north east club have continued to rise the league and now find themselves with a genuine chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, having made an excellent start to the campaign.
And Taylor believes that Newcastle have not been in a better position for a significant time to secure qualification for Europe’s premier competition.
Taylor told GiveMeSport: “Newcastle are not going to have any better time in the past 15 years to get into the top four. Champions League qualification is such a game changer in terms of financial revenue and attracting players. This is Newcastle’s golden opportunity to put themselves back amongst the big boys.”
Newcastle will hope that they can keep this run of form up until the end of the season and achieve qualification for the Champions League next season, something that will have been beyond the fanbase’s wildest dreams just over 12 months ago.
In securing qualification for the continent’s elite competition, the Magpies would make themselves more attractive for potential new signings and the added revenue would allow them to negotiate Financial Fair Play restrictions.
The club’s most publicised and top target going into the January transfer window is arguably that of Leicester City attacker James Maddison, who could be sold for a fee of £60m, as per Sky Sports.
PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo is another player who may have to consider a potential move to St. James’ Park in the new year, after Newcastle were credited with an interest in the World Cup star, alongside Manchester United and Real Madrid.
With a huge second half of the campaign to come, Howe and PIF will be optimistic that the Magpies can at least secure some form of European football on Tyneside next year, which would likely enable the club to attract some of the world’s most coveted and talented players to St. James’ Park in the future.
Freelance Exclusives Writer at GiveMeSport, mainly covering Premier League football, including transfer news, injury news, reactions and opinions.
Graduate in Sports Journalism as of 2021 and have worked for a variety of media outlets and a professional football club.
Wrote 600+ articles for This is Futbol before moving over to GiveMeSport in November.
You can find me on Twitter – https://twitter.com/hwhittingham6
© 2022 Sports New Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Newcastle have 'golden opportunity' to secure 'game-changer' at St James' Park – GIVEMESPORT
RELATED ARTICLES
