Newcastle United do not have to look too far for inspiration. Leicester City have long proved that, yes, it is possible to upset the established order.
Whether it is winning trophies, playing in Europe, building a state of the art training facility, bringing through promising youngsters or generally recruiting smartly, the Foxes have shown what can be done. Eddie Howe, himself, has admitted that the 2016 title winners are a 'great club to look at with how they've invested their money'.
However, this summer looks set to be opposite number Brendan Rodgers' most challenging window yet at the King Power Stadium and Leicester are the only Premier League club to fail to make a single signing to date. While Leicester's issues present a potential opportunity, in closing the gap on the Foxes, they also serve as a warning to Newcastle, whose owners also have to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations.
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Rodgers, himself, has stated there will be a 'different expectation' this season if he is unable to 'affect' the squad. Although there are still six weeks to go until the window shuts, Rodgers already knows it will not be possible to oversee the shake-up he wanted after originally planning to bring in five or six new faces.
A curiously mixed window last summer has contributed to that situation when, traditionally, Leicester are among the best in the business in that respect. It says it all that Leicester are open to offers for Boubakary Soumare, a former Newcastle target; Jannik Vestergaard; and Ryan Bertrand, who all joined the club just a year ago.
Given how Leicester did not sell a key player last summer - the Foxes previously balanced the books by letting N'Golo Kante (2016), Danny Drinkwater (2017), Riyad Mahrez (2018) and Harry Maguire (2019) all go - that was a pretty devastating combination because of the club's outstanding costs.
Leicester's wage to turnover ratio has increased dramatically over the years, after all, in an effort to stay competitive and the club's most recent accounts revealed that figure was an eye-watering 85% after the wage bill rose to nearly £159m. It is at the stage now where Leicester have to sell before they can buy but with little interest in the club's fringe players, the Foxes have been unable to do any business so far.
Leicester, of course, still have a quality starting line-up and it is easy to forget that the Foxes managed to finish in eighth place last season and make the Europa Conference League semi-finals despite the injuries they had. However, Rodgers knew Leicester needed help and, noting that Newcastle finished just three points off his side last season, the Northern Irishman predicted that the Magpies would 'invest heavily in the summer to bring in a number of quality players'.
Newcastle have so far signed goalkeeper Nick Pope and defenders Sven Botman and Matt Targett, and Eddie Howe remains hopeful of completing another couple of deals before the window shuts to secure the firepower this side needs to move to the next level. Supporters are anxious, with the season starting in just over two weeks' time, but signing the right players is of the utmost importance to Newcastle to avoid a situation like the one Leicester currently find themselves in - even if the Magpies have greater resources.
Howe, himself, warned earlier this week that 'you can make big mistakes if you don't show patience'. It is easy to see what he meant.
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