How much can Newcastle spend?published at 14:10 BST

Image source, Getty ImagesIn the final part of our special Q&A, BBC Sport's Newcastle United reporter Ciaran Kelly will be answering a selection of the questions you have sent in throughout Friday, including on how much the Magpies can spend this summer and what is happening with the striker situation.
Ewan asked: How much can Newcastle realistically spend on new players?
Ciaran answered: There was a time when clubs had set figures at the start of windows and this was a much more straightforward question to answer.
However, the days of war chests are over and, internally, Newcastle use the term 'headroom'.
It is a fluid calculation, taking into account current ongoing costs relating to the squad and the legacy of previous windows, such as last year's bruising summer.
This is why the trading of players like Anthony Gordon is going to be so important to boost headroom, particularly after Newcastle missed out on the riches of the Champions League and, indeed, any European football whatsoever.
Newcastle may be out of Europe, but those inside the club have stressed the importance of still complying with Uefa's rules, which enable the Magpies to spend up to 70% of their revenue.
I certainly don't envisage a £241m spending spree like last summer, even if that outlay was admittedly balanced by the £125m sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool.
The £18.5m arrival of goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from Stade de Reims feels like a sign of what is to come in terms of the markets and the age profile Newcastle are looking at.
Several positions still need addressing so it is not hard to anticipate more than £100m being spent this summer with the help of sales.
The difference in this window is Newcastle are looking more at players in the £20m-£35m bracket to address key areas of the squad rather than making £69m signings like Nick Woltemade.
Image source, Getty ImagesWill asked: Howe seemed to indicate he was happy with the striker situation at the club in the final weeks of the season. Are the club actively looking to buy or sell in this area? It was a surprise to hear for most fans, especially with Wissa hardly featuring.
Ciaran answered: In some ways, it was not necessarily a hugely surprising response from Eddie Howe.
With a few games remaining of the season at the time, and having spent £124m on Yoane Wissa and Woltemade, it would not have been a great show of faith to say otherwise publicly.
It would not necessarily have helped Newcastle in future negotiations, either.
I don't see Woltemade going personally – Howe had an eye on the future by using him in the number 10 role towards the end of the season – and the head coach has repeatedly spoken of how Wissa will benefit from at least some form of pre-season after he returns from the World Cup.
In truth, it is hard to imagine there being many takers for Wissa after he scored just three goals last season.
In terms of incomings, the manner in which William Osula ended the campaign has given the club real food for thought after he bagged six goals in nine league appearances.
In a strange way, if Newcastle were to enter the market for a striker right now, the 22-year-old fits the sort of profile they would be looking at: good with both feet, 6ft 3in tall, quick in behind, mobile enough to press opposition defenders and still with plenty of room for further development.
I suspect the club may look at signing a versatile forward who would predominantly play on the wing, but could also offer cover through the middle as Gordon did.
Scroll further down this page to find the rest of the Q&A with Ciaran.

























