Eddie Howe has admitted Newcastle United struggle with the 'world's richest club' tag brought about by their Saudi Arabian ownership.

The 46-year-old was appointed Toon manager in November 2021, shortly after a consortium led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund [PIF] paid £300million to buy the club from Mike Ashley.

Given PIF's colossal wealth, it made Newcastle the world's wealthiest club at a stroke and Howe would lead them to a fourth place finish and Champions League qualification in 2022-23.

But Howe has argued that status is also a hindrance and that Newcastle had to sell popular winger Allan Saint-Maximin to Al-Ahli last summer to meet Financial Fair Play obligations.

'Whenever you hear Newcastle mentioned externally in the media, it's always the 'richest club in the world' tag that goes next to it,' Howe told The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.

'That's been difficult for us, because there's always been that pressure on us even though we're not living that reality. We've had to battle that; the players have handled that really well.

'I've come from a club like Bournemouth that had to invest to grow, so I think if the owner has the money and wants to invest in a safe way and put the money into the club, then why can't he spend that money?

'I think that's how football clubs should work - we don't want to see clubs getting into financial problems long-term, but if that money is ringfenced then they should be able to use it.'

Having spent £55m on Sandro Tonali, £28m on Harvey Barnes and £35m on Tino Livramento last summer, Newcastle were forced to balance the books and sold French star Saint-Maximin to Saudi club Al-Ahli for £23m.

'Maxi was a player that I absolutely loved,' said Howe.

'He was slightly different to the conventional wingers that maybe I've had in the past, he is an absolute maverick and magician with the ball.

'We were accommodating him, his strengths, and weaknesses within the team, loved working with him.

'Financial Fair Play was hitting is, so we had to lose Maxi at that moment, and I think it was probably his time to leave, for him as well.

'Then of course you're looking to replace a player that was a difference-maker - you could never go like-for-like, I don't know another Allan Saint-Maximin, with his qualities, so you have to fine someone different - Anthony [Gordon, signed for £45m in January 2023].

'That's probably where we are, we're recruiting players at the moment that are up and coming, who haven't hit their best levels yet, trying to get them early and develop them and grow into those players.'

Howe said buying players at that crucial stage in their development and polishing them up into the finished product suits his outlook as a coach.

'For my way of working, I think those players fit my style well,' he added.

'You're developing them and growing them in a certain way, moulding them into your style so they can fit into the team model the best way possible.

'If you have a finishing product, there isn't much moulding to do there.

'I don't think that means that there isn't a place for a superstar, however you want to bracket that player, a difference-maker, I think you can accommodate them as well, but where we are at the moment, with the constraints we're working under, that's the best way for us to work.'

Newcastle are currently sixth in the Premier League table and could qualify for next season's UEFA Europa League.