Newcastle United's chief executive Darren Eales sounded a warning to the club's supporters by admitting the star names could be sold in an effort to meet Premier League rules.
Eales' warning came as the Magpies revealed accounts showing revenue of £250million - a 39 per cent increase - but with a loss of £73.4m, largely due to £153m spent on new players.
The Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules permit clubs to have a loss of no more than £105million over a three-year period.
Owners can bankroll £90m of the total as they attempt to grow their business, while only £15million can be lost of the club's own finances.