Premier League news: How a second-place finish would benefit ambitious Newcastle Utd
Ahead of a potential Champions League qualification–deciding clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United will be aware of the financial rewards of moving up to second place with a victory in London.
The Magpies are currently on 66 points, two behind Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
Sports News Blitz writer Matt McKenry looks at the benefits of finishing as high as possible in the Premier League and the role of Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Capital ambition for Magpies
Following on from their 2-0 victory over Chelsea at the weekend, Newcastle will hope to continue their winning ways on Sunday.
Up next is a visit to the capital, with Arsenal standing in the way of guaranteed Champions League football for Howe’s side.
A victory at the Emirates will also see Newcastle and Arsenal swap places to occupy second and third, respectively.
As a result, while the thought of Champions League money remains a great motivator, Premier League prize money needs to be taken into account too.
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What is PSR and how has it affected Newcastle?
A key topic of discussion for many Premier League teams in recent times has been PSR.
They are measures put in place that encourage clubs to manage their finances responsibly and without incurring excessive losses.
In that, clubs can only record losses of up to £105 million over a three-year period, with transgressors at risk of penalties such as point deductions, spending limits, and fines.
Newcastle have skated very close to the limits of PSR at times, especially last summer when the Magpies needed to raise £60 million in order to comply.
Sales of promising future talents like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, to Nottingham Forest and Brighton, were necessary to allow the club to meet the deadline.
A quiet summer followed, with Newcastle unable to sign marquee target Marc Guéhi and having to settle for a largely unchanged squad despite the desire to continue progressing up the ranks.
January then saw the departure of Miguel Almirón in order to free up more funds, but there were once again no new arrivals.
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Impact of Premier League and Champions League money
Going into the final two Premier League gameweeks, many different teams are still looking to bolster their financial windfall come the summer.
Clubs like Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest have all spent big in recent years and European football – the more elite, the better – would be massive in backing up such expenditure.
For Newcastle, finishing the season as strongly as possible is a must.
After winning the Carabao Cup and claiming a first trophy in 70 years, expectations have risen around the club and big spending in the summer is predicted.
Last season, the Magpies finished in seventh place and received £39.4 million in merit payments. Arsenal, meanwhile, netted £53.5 million for their second-place finish.
With 2025 set to be very similar on that front, Newcastle have a £14 million incentive to win on Sunday.
That increase in prize money would add much-needed fuel to the club’s long-term quest of winning the title.
New sponsorships and the return of Adidas as the official kit supplier will further assist ambitious spending plans.
It’s all to play for Newcastle, then. Roll on the Emirates.
MORE FROM MATT MCKENRY: Premier League news: Five ways Newcastle Utd bested Chelsea in race for CL football
