Exclusive: Rio Ferdinand 'excited' about Newcastle United, backs Eddie Howe's side to shine in top-four battle

Newcastle United are finishing in the Champions League places again this season, according to TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand, speaking on Saturday evening ahead of Newcastle's meeting with Manchester City, was full of praise for Newcastle's approach to their first summer transfer window after securing a return to Europe's top table at the end of last season.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: "I'm really excited about Newcastle. They've got a fantastic manager in Eddie Howe, who many doubted when he came in, and they've got a really, really, really good team. Their business in the transfer market has been really good. They've been efficient. They've been quick with what they've done."

Newcastle have signed three first-team players this summer in Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, and Tino Livramento.

That summer business has cost them a little less than £100 million, far short of some of their fellow top-four sides and much less than might have been expected of a club with virtually limitless resources.

Tonali, the former Milan playmaker, performed brilliantly on debut against Aston Villa last weekend and Ferdinand held the Italy man up as an example of shrewd Newcastle business.

Ferdinand's former England team-mate Peter Crouch, speaking alongside him, agreed.

Crouch said: "The players that they've signed have bought into exactly what they're trying to achieve. They're the right kind of characters as well."

On Tonali, Crouch argued that the Italy maestro has shown his quality from day one.

He said: "I thought Tonali might take some time to settle, but to play the way he did... It's a great place to play football right now."

Ferdinand and Crouch debated which former Italy legend - Andrea Pirlo or Gennaro Gattuso - Tonali most reminded them of before moving on to striker Alexander Isak.

Isak, a summer signing last year, was hailed as a "real, real top player" by long-time Premier League marksman Crouch.

For Ferdinand, the individual quality is second to the overall strength in depth that has been put together over several windows at Newcastle.

He said: "This is what the DNA of this football club is right now. A fast-paced, dynamic, aggressive team. And they're fit. There's a group of players there, you think to yourself 'wow there's quality but they're all physically tip-top'.

"Playing against that, you know you're going to be physically tested, no doubt."

Ferdinand explained that the key strength Newcastle possess is, for him, their physicality.

He said: "Can you live up to the physicality they bring every week?"

Ferdinand summed up his perspective by backing Newcastle to go deep on multiple fronts this season, and ultimately finish in the top four once again.

Ferdinand said: "I think they're going to be there or thereabouts. They're definitely going to be fighting for those Champions League places."

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