Newcastle will not allow their best players to leave if they miss out on the Champions League this season, sending a clear and robust message to rival clubs, intermediaries and their own dressing-room.
After a run of three defeats in four Premier League games, Eddie Howe’s side have fallen out of the top five places that will qualify for Europe’s top competition. This has given rise to fresh talk in football circles of interest in the likes of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes.
However, because the club will enter the summer in a strong position from a PSR perspective and have all of their most valuable players on long-term contracts, there is no appetite or need to let any of them leave, should they ask to do so.