Newcastle United have been warned by journalist Dean Jones that they could risk breaching FFP sanctions if they sign Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy for £15m in January.

Guirassy has been making a significant impact in the Bundesliga with Stuttgart this season, drawing attention from several top clubs, including Newcastle. According to Dean Jones on the Ranks FC podcast, Newcastle is nearing its spending limit under Financial Fair Play (FFP), and the proposed fee for Guirassy might exceed their budget constraints. Newcastle, not possessing the financial prowess of clubs like Manchester United or Manchester City, faces FFP restrictions that mandate expenditures to align with revenues generated through transfers or commercial deals. As they enter a crucial transfer window in need of reinforcements, Newcastle must tread carefully due to these financial limitations.

Despite their interest in acquiring the Stuttgart attacker, the suggested £15 million fee appears to be challenging for Newcastle, prompting them to be extra cautious about FFP compliance, as explained by Jones on the podcast.

“So, indeed, they are seeking a forward, and, true, the option of Guirassy from Stuttgart has been presented. However, even at a price tag of £15 million, my understanding is that the payment is required all at once. Now, I must clarify that I’m not an expert on Newcastle’s financial situation; rather, I’m relaying second-hand information from another source. This could potentially expose them to the risk of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, an area they would prefer to avoid getting close to.

Guirassy has emerged as a surprising success story this season, making a remarkable impact in Stuttgart’s Bundesliga campaign with an impressive 16 goals in just 11 games. To put this in perspective, Guirassy has outscored Newcastle’s leading goal-scorers, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, combined, who have managed seven goals each in the Premier League.

The injury-plagued record of Newcastle’s current strikers likely contributes to their lower goal tally, prompting Eddie Howe’s interest in bolstering the attacking squad. Whether they can entice the 27-year-old Guirassy, especially considering the proposition of being a third-choice striker and their Financial Fair Play concerns, remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Guirassy undeniably possesses significant goal-scoring talent.”