Newcastle United have done something Daniel Levy wouldn’t have dared do at Tottenham, says Brad Friedel

Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel referenced Newcastle United while discussing Daniel Levy's departure from Tottenham Hotspur. Levy, who had been executive chairman since 2001, was surprisingly removed from his role, a decision aimed at improving the club's performance both on and off the field after a tenure that included stadium development and European success.

Levy had previously criticized Newcastle's financial backing from PIF, contrasting it with Tottenham's self-built approach. Friedel asserted that Levy would never have allowed a high-profile transfer saga like Alexander Isak's to occur at Tottenham. Isak, Newcastle's star striker, expressed his desire to leave in July, and despite initial resistance, the club eventually sold him to Liverpool for a British record fee of £125 million to avoid potential disruptions and strengthen their financial position.

Friedel emphasized Levy's firm control over player transfers, citing examples like Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, where Levy secured maximum value and avoided selling key players to domestic rivals. Despite Levy's criticism, there was noted admiration for Newcastle's project, including their appointment of Eddie Howe—a coach previously linked with Tottenham.

Newcastle's decision to sell Isak was justified as it provided significant profit and financial flexibility, even if the fee was lower than hoped. Friedel, who briefly played for Newcastle in the 1990s, acknowledged the club's strategic reasoning behind the transfer.