‘It’s a joke’ - Gabby Agbonlahor rages as Newcastle United transfer situation

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The former Aston Villa man's comments came after Newcastle United agreed to sell Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur.

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Gabby Agbonlahor has slammed financial restrictions for hindering clubs like Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Despite boasting owners worth almost £1trillion, the Magpies have sold Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to bankroll summer signings. This comes one year after Newcastle were unable to keep prized asset Alexander Isak.

Perhaps the most frustrating situation came in 2024, when Newcastle reluctantly sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to avoid a potential Premier League points deduction. In a non-PSR world, Chelsea and Manchester City - via rich ownership models - were able to catapult themselves to success.

However, Newcastle continue to be picked off by clubs boasting superior balance sheets. Likewise, Villa, also threatening to break up the “big six” monopoly, are also being hamstrung by financial pressures.

Gabby Agbonlahor fury

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Premier League striker Agbonlahor referenced clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa to attack the financial rules. His comments came after the Magpies sold Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100million.

“I speak for Newcastle fans, for Villa fans, for a lot of fans whose clubs can't spend money,” Agbonlahor said. “Spurs have finished seventeenth two seasons in a row, how can they go and spend £52million on (Jan Paul) van Hecke, Tonali will be £100million, Fernandes will be £85million, free transfers for (Andy) Robertson and (Marcos) Senesi, big, big wages for all five of those players.

“And then teams like Aston Villa who have just won the Europa League are getting fined £19 million and can't spend any money. It's a joke. It's a joke. The rules are a joke. How can clubs like Villa get to the next level? What's the point? The rules are terrible.

“It's that so-called top six bias. Clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle can't buy anyone, but Spurs finish 17th, two seasons in a row, and then go and spend. Who are you going to go and get next?”

‘Can’t dream’ - Gabby Agbonlahor

“Clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle can't dream, you're telling me now Spurs can just finish wherever they want every season, spend whatever they want because they bring in so much,” Agbonlahor added. “I'm not saying they're being punished. I'm just saying it's not fair that they can, and then clubs like Aston Villa who have got multi-billion pound owners and Newcastle can't buy anybody.”