Matt Ritchie says any new signing must embrace the Newcastle United culture.

The midfielder has warned that pricey new recruits will have to fit into the existing “team" ethic and know how to “fight for every point."

Ritchie said: “Is this group good enough to finish top 10 every season? No. We have to improve.

“Yes, the fans want top, top players. Players want top players. But there has to be credit and respect for this group we had now.

“We finished 10th last year. We maximised our potential last year, as players, individuals and as a team. We finished tenth for a reason. We deserved it. It raised expectations. The whole club is a team, everyone deserved credit."

He added: “It is so tight. The Premier League is so close you have to keep fighting until the end, like we did last season. Last day, we jumped up four or five places. Again this season, it is going to be so tight.

“We are probably in our best spell of form this season, for sure.

“We have to fight for every point."