Newcastle chiefs admit the sale of Allan Saint-Maximin - to a Saudi Arabian club with the same owners - unlocked their ability to spend this summer.
Mail Sport revealed in May that Eddie Howe and his recruitment team were told they had a budget of £75million, if players were not sold.
The head coach then said in July, after the £52m arrival of Sandro Tonali, that the club were ‘stuck' when it came to bringing in more because of Financial Fair Play.
Saint-Maximin joined Al Ahli the following week in a £25m deal, leading top-flight rivals to question whether the transfer represented fair market value, given Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund owns both the buying and selling club.
The Premier League signed off on the sale and Newcastle have since added Harvey Barnes (£38m) and Tino Livramento (£30m).
Allan Saint-Maximin moved to Al Ahli in a £25m deal from Newcastle earlier in the window
Newcastle director Dan Ashworth has admitted the sale of Saint-Maximin helped the club's ability to add to the squad
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Sporting director Dan Ashworth says there were no other offers for Saint-Maximin, but insists the transaction was above board.
‘We always hear lots of different rumours, but official bids (for Saint-Maximin)?
No,' he said.
‘There was some interest and calls. It works in a way where people call and ask what's the situation with him, would you listen to offers for this player or that player. You don't often get that escalating into a formal offer.