Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has played down links with Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

According to Howe, the club will have to discover future superstars before they hit the headlines.

The Magpies have been at the center of speculation over big-money transfers ever since a Saudi-backed consortium completed its takeover in October 2021.

When asked about the possibility of some of the best players in the world one day playing for Newcastle, Howe told reporters on Friday: “We are never going to be in a position currently to afford those transfer fees and wages.

“So we need to go underneath and find them young and develop them into the players they can be.”

Howe’s men are on the verge of securing Champions League football ahead of next season.

They currently sit in third place with 65 points from 33 matches.