By Adam Williams, Finance & Governance Correspondent

28th Apr, 2023 | 7:00am

Sources: Newcastle United plot revealed as '£80m' outlay on the cards

Newcastle United are still actively exploring plans to build a new best-in-class training facility, sources have told Football Insider.

The new regime has made no secret of its ambitions to move to a new training base, although the immediate focus has been on revamping the existing Darsley Park complex.

It is understood that the first swathe of upgrades is due to be finalised in time for 2023-24, while the club has also applied for planning application to expand its on-site gym facilities.

But a well-placed source has told this site that the continuing redevelopment of the current training hub is not an indication that plans for a new base are now on the back burner.

Several million is believed to have been spent on a number of improvements at Darsley Park, including new recovery facilities, communal areas and office spaces as well as a brand new facade for the main building.

However, the cost of an entirely new training centre – which would likely rival those built by Man City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester City in recent years – would dwarf that outlay.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has previously told this site that the Magpies could spend “close to £80m” to build a fresh facility.

It is believed that Newcastle would move to a new site rather than building on the existing one, meaning the club’s paymasters would have to fork out for the land too.

There are also plans to increase capacity at St James’ Park, and it is suspected that the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s purchase of a plot of land known as Strawberry Palce adjacent to the Gallowgate End is for this purpose.

In other news, Newcastle United push ahead with Scott McTominay deal after what he told Man United board.