Newcastle United will receive major £10m PSR boost within 24 hours - on one condition
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Newcastle United latest news: Eddie Howe’s side face PSG in their final Champions League league phase match tonight.
Newcastle United head into tonight’s clash with reigning European champions PSG knowing that a win would secure them a place in the Champions League Round of 16.
Their triumph against PSV Eindhoven last week secured their progress to the knockout stages and ensured that they would head to the French capital knowing they can enjoy a ‘free hit’ against PSG with a huge reward for a win - but little expectation of that happening.
Eddie Howe’s squad is stretched and whilst it will take every ounce of energy they have left in the tank to overcome PSG tonight, they also know that a win would mean they do not have to play a two-legged play-off match in the Champions League next month. Not only would that eliminate any jeopardy of an exit before the last-16 stage, but it would also remove another two games from their hectic fixture schedule and give the squad a much needed midweek off.
However, as mentioned, the only way of doing that is to beat PSG. Famously, they took four points off the Parisians during their last Champions League campaign, but Luis Enrique’s side are a different beast to the one they met back in 2023.
There is a scenario where a draw could be good enough for both teams to secure a top-eight finish tonight, but that would require a remarkable set of results that neither team will want to rely on. All 36 teams competing in this season’s Champions League league phase will kick-off their matches simultaneously tonight.
Champions League prize money & Newcastle United’s £10m PSR boost
Whilst securing progression to the Round of 16 will be all that is driving Howe and his team on tonight, there is a financial reward awaiting them if they can beat PSG. A reward that will significantly boost their coffers and benefit them in their fight against PSR restrictions.
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Newcastle United’s journey in the Champions League this season has already earned them £23.8m in prize money. The Magpies received £16m just for qualifying for the competition and participating in the league phase.
Their four wins, over Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica, Athletic Club and PSV Eindhoven, has topped that up by an additional £7.2m. Their draw away at Bayer Leverkusen last month also added £600,000 to their bank balance.
As you move up the league phase table, each place is also worth an additional £238,000 - giving every club an extra incentive to finish as high up the table as possible, even if it appears there is little to play for on the pitch.
Prize money then increases with every win in the knockout stage with an additional £9.55m for either finishing in the top-eight or winning a play-off round to secure safe passage into the Round of 16. £10.8m is available to quarter final winners with £13m available to semi-final winners.
A place in the final in Budapest on May 30 will guarantee any club just-shy of £16m with an additional £5.6m given to the winner.