Newcastle United's four January transfer window purchases cost £22 million more than the market rate, as rivals took advantage of the Magpies' newfound cash and desire to avoid relegation.
When the transfer market reopened in January, owners all across Europe were on high alert, knowing that Newcastle had become the richest football club in the world after the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) became the main shareholder.
PIF financed the majority of Newcastle United's £300 million buyout in October, and the fund's £270 billion fortune puts it 11 times wealthier than Manchester City's Sheikh Mansour.
That is exactly what happened in three of the four deals Newcastle made, though the club will consider it a modest price to pay if it ensures Premier League survival.
Newcastle had a relatively successful transfer window, bringing in Dan Burn, Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier, and Bruno Guimaraes for a total fee of £94.5 million, including add-ons.
Toon, on the other hand, have had to overpay, with pre-sale valuations for the four players coming in at at £72.6 million, over £22 million – or 20% – less than what they have paid.
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