Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, whilst disappointed that star striker Andy Carroll departed for Liverpool in a £35m deal, is confident that Toon owner Mike Ashley will release all of the funds for squad strengthening. The Magpies boss is now looking forward to the prospect of a close-season spending spree.
Pardew said: "The one thing I said to Mike was, `Look, if this boy is going to go, this money has to be reinvested in the team, all of it', and he has assured me of that.
"For the Newcastle fan, that is the most important message I can give, that all that money will be used.
"Could it have been used? (On Monday night) we made a couple of bids, but we were getting extortionate figures thrown at us. It was ridiculous.
"Were we going to pay an overhiked price for a lesser product than Andy Carroll? No, so unfortunately as I sit here now, I am weaker than I was because I had Andy Carroll maybe four or five weeks away (from full fitness). I am not comfortable with it, but it is what it is."
