Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales believes the new partnership between Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell will be highly effective as they approach the summer transfer window.
Mitchell was recently appointed as the club’s new sporting director, taking over from Dan Ashworth who moved to Manchester United. Unlike Ashworth, Mitchell will have a more hands-on role in recruitment. He has a successful track record from his time at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig, and Monaco, where he brought in top talents like Sadio Mane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, and Christopher Nkunku. Eales is optimistic about Mitchell replicating this success at Newcastle while supporting Howe in maximizing the squad’s potential.
Eales expressed excitement about the club’s future, emphasizing their high ambitions and desire for continuous improvement. He highlighted the importance of recruitment, noting that 90% of the sporting director role focuses on this area. Mitchell’s Premier League experience and global expertise make him an ideal fit for the position, and his collaboration with Howe will be crucial in navigating Financial Fair Play (FFP) constraints to maximize resources effectively.
Eales mentioned the club’s commitment to spending up to their maximum available headroom, ensuring every decision has a positive impact. He praised Howe’s coaching abilities, citing the improvement of players like Anthony Gordon under his guidance, and looked forward to the partnership between Howe and Mitchell in strengthening the team.
Newcastle are entering the final six weeks of the summer transfer window in a stronger financial position, a significant improvement from a few weeks ago when they had to make quick sales to meet Premier League Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) requirements. The club’s turnover has increased substantially, providing more flexibility in their spending.
Eales compared the current situation to his experience in the United States with a strict salary cap, explaining that FFP now effectively creates a similar cap in Europe. He stressed the importance of making strategic decisions to efficiently use resources, whether it’s strengthening the squad depth or adding impactful first-team players. The goal is to consistently compete in the top six and for trophies.
He noted the club’s impressive revenue growth, from £140 million to over £300 million, and acknowledged the need to continue competing with the Premier League’s big six. Eales concluded by emphasizing the importance of Howe and Mitchell working together to use resources wisely and strengthen the squad moving forward.
