It is easy to forget that Newcastle United were, technically, still in the race to finish as runners-up with just a couple of games to go last season.
Newcastle ended up in fifth, but the club had real momentum going into the summer after qualifying for the Champions League and ending the club’s long wait for silverware.
Only this has not proved a transformative window.
Newcastle have missed out on a host of targets, including Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, James Trafford, Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen.
The Alexander Isak saga continues to drag on and there has been further upheaval in the boardroom following the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell.
It has been far from ideal.
Newcastle still have a side capable of going toe-to-toe with the very best, as the Magpies proved against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, but this thin squad needs urgent reinforcements to fight on four fronts.
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