Newcastle will have to replicate last month’s lavish spending in future windows if they are to achieve their dream of mixing it with the Premier League big boys.
Five new signings arrived at St James’ Park in January as the Magpies’ new mega-rich owners got the cheque book out to try and keep the club in the top flight.
Had Reims’ striker Hugo Ekitike - who rejected a deadline-day move to Tyneside - joined Newcastle, the new owner’s would have surpassed Mike Ashley’s entire net spend in just one transfer window.
