It has been a case of evolution over revolution at Newcastle United in the first two transfer windows of the new era. Superstars such as Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak have arrived as Eddie Howe has already overseen a significant squad overhaul.
The cumulative transfer spend in excess of £205 million has already transformed Newcastle's ambition from a perennial relegation battle to hope of European football. This investment is recognised as just the first step in a long-term project to elevate the Magpies into serious contenders for silverware in the coming years.
However, the 'richest club in the world' tag pinned to Newcastle following the Saudi-backed takeover last October has not stopped the club backing away from prospective deals. The Magpies refused to meet Sevilla's lofty demands for Diego Carlos in January, while the asking prices for Jack Harrison and James Maddison proved to be successful deterrents this summer.
