£83m outlay just the start, claims Steve McClaren

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has insisted the club’s £83m (€109.6m) spending spree is only the start of owner Mike Ashley’s plan for future success.

Despite missing out on West Brom striker Saido Berahino on the final day of the January transfer window, the Magpies invested in the region of £29m (38.3m) in Jonjo Shelvey, Henri Saivet and Andros Townsend, as well as drafting in loan signing Seydou Doumbia.

That took Ashley’s spending since he promised to revitalise the squad at the end of last season to around £83m (109.6m), and McClaren is adamant there is more work to be done with the proven top-flight goalscorer he craved having eluded him once again.