Newcastle United's spending under their current owners could go beyond £700million, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: Excellent first year under owners

It is now just over a year since the PIF took ownership at St James' Park, during which time there has already been significant progress made.

Eddie Howe has been an inspired appointment as manager to date, while a number of new heroes have arrived on the pitch, from Kieran Trippier to Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazilian in particular seemingly a real sign of the stars to come on Tyneside.

Newcastle's new-found wealth has been much-publicised over the past 12 months and their spending power is unlikely to dampen any time soon, but recent reports have revealed PIF could have taken their money elsewhere, namely Manchester United.

The Latest: Maguire makes £700m claim

According to reports, the new Magpies bosses were offered a '30 per cent stake in another Premier League club for £700m', believed to the Red Devils.

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire, a sports finance guru for Sky Sports, outlined how the Magpies' owners could spend that sum and get a better reward for it in the North East:

"They have managed to model Newcastle United as they see fit. They have invested substantial sums that will take the total spend well beyond the £700m in due course.

"Not only are they investing in talent off the pitch but there has also been a substantial reanalysis with regards to infrastructure and the support network for the first team.

"Ultimately, that is was the focus should be for any football club. That will allow the club to progress. We could potentially see Newcastle challenge for European places relatively quickly. That will start to generate a return on that investment.

"The attention for that will come back to the owners, whereas they wouldn’t have got the publicity and reviews that they are hoping for had they been minority owners at another club."

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The Verdict: On an upwards trajectory

It is certainly an exciting time to be a Newcastle supporter, with everyone heading in the right direction under Howe and the possibility of a European finish even on the cards this season.

When you look at the success that Manchester City have achieved with similar money in recent times, there is no reason why similar can't potentially happen with the Magpies as the years pass and the team gets even stronger.

There are moral issues surrounding the ownership that certainly won't sit well with some, especially with rival fans, but Newcastle supporters will feel they have deserved something to shout about in a footballing sense for decades now.