Last week the figures for Premier League teams’ spending on agents’ fees were released and Newcastle United were in the top five, with more than £7 million being spent, but is this £7m that has gone to good use?
There will be those that argue than no money should be spent on agents’ fees, but the fact of the matter is that they’re part and parcel of the modern game and you have to work with them in order to secure the signings of high quality players.
Newcastle may not be spending a lot of money on players in terms of transfer fees, but it looks like their dealings in France are costing a fair amount in other areas.
The total amount paid to agents by Newcastle in the period from 1st October 2012 to 30th September 2013 was £7,294,018, with half a dozen of players brought in from across the Channel.
The likes of Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran and Mathieu Debuchy may not have cost an extortionate amount of money, but it seems like cash has had to go to their respective representatives in order to get their men to move to Tyneside.
Here’s the top eight, with Newcastle spending more than Arsenal, Manchester United and Sunderland…
Chelsea – £13,721,721
Manchester City – £11,179,817
Tottenham – £9,787,676
Liverpool – £9,400,973
Newcastle – £7,294,018
Arsenal – £5,485,96
Sunderland – £4,640,227
Manchester United – £4,317,690
It may seem like a lot of cash, but because of these outlays Newcastle have managed to greatly strengthen their squad right across the pitch.
Debuchy is getting better and better all the time, Sissoko could go onto become a Newcastle great and Gouffran is even chipping in with some important goals on top of his exceptional work rate.
So, I would argue that it is £7 million well spent, and if they have to spend more to get someone like Bafetimbi Gomis in during January, then Mike Ashley will have to put his hand in his pocket again.
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