Former Newcastle star Jose Enrique explains why Kylian Mbappe won't be going to the Magpies

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Newcastle are the richest club in the world – now one former player explains why they're targeting the likes of Dan Burn and Chris Wood over World Cup-winning superstars

Newcastle United tatget Kylian Mbappe
(Image credit: Getty)

Newcastle United have the money to sign anyone in the world. So… why aren't they?

It's a sensible enough question when you think about it. There's nothing stopping the Toon from buying Bayern Munich's entire team – and yet they're targeting more modest signings as they look to fight a relegation battle before they get carried away with signing Galacticos.

We spoke to Jose Enrique earlier this wee in association with BoyleSports football betting and we thought we'd ask him all about it, though. Why doesn't his former club just go out and get Kylian Mbappe, if they're that rich? And will Newcastle get to the point where they sign superstars?

"First of all, Mbappe would not go to Newcastle," Enrique smiled. "Mbappe is going to go to Madrid, to Liverpool, to City – he can go anywhere in the world he wants. PSG, even – they have all the money to keep him. Newcastle just have to be realistic with the situation that they are in and maybe in a few years’ time, depending on where they are, they will be able to sign these players. 

"The fans deserve to have a top team in the league. I would love that for Newcastle but I like what they’re doing, signing the players that they need and not just doing what Manchester City did when they signed Robinho. Trippier has come because of a massive contract – that’s the reality – but Eddie knows him from Burnley and knows what he’s going to bring to the team. 

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"He’s a young manager who knows the league and has done really well at the bottom of the table with a very small budget compared to everyone else. Now he’s going to do good things with Newcastle. I was a bit scared that they were going to start like Manchester City and bring in names to the side that they didn’t need. 

"Maybe later down the line they can bring in bigger players who match their ambition but right now, they need players who want to fight and try to help the team to stay in the division."

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Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.