As the fifth anniversary of the takeover approaches in October, Newcastle clearly have work to do on and off the field.
Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan set out to be “number one” while chief executive David Hopkinson’s aim was to be “in the debate about being the top club in the world” by 2030.
But Newcastle need the infrastructure to match.
An announcement is awaited on plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground after a site was identified in Woolsington near Newcastle Airport.
The club have stressed the importance of taking time to make the right decision when it comes to either expanding St James’ Park or building a new stadium, which will be key to boosting revenue.
To consistently compete, however, there is little margin for error.
Newcastle needed to see more of an immediate return from a £100m-plus net spend last summer, for example, but defender Malick Thiaw has been the only unquestioned success.
The club are also counting the cost of a bruising 12th-placed finish last season after missing out on Europe.
Most pertinently, after breaching Uefa’s financial sustainability regulations, Newcastle have entered into a three-year settlement with European football’s governing body.
Raising funds through the sales of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively was therefore crucial in order for the club to have the ability to reinvest this summer.
Three key players have now left in less than 12 months, though, which has weakened the side considerably, following Alexander Isak’s painful £125m departure to Liverpool last summer.
Newcastle do not want to lose another big name in Bruno Guimaraes, but the captain’s future is uncertain after he intimated he wished to join Arsenal.
Whatever happens, trading will remain a key part of the club’s strategy in the coming years and there has been a shift in approach with incomings too.
Further reinforcements are sorely needed but all of the club’s arrivals this summer – goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, midfielder Sean Steur and winger Bazoumana Toure – have been aged 20 and under, and from the continent.
The trio have immense potential and, in the right hands, could flourish, but they will need time. It feels like the same could be said for the project as a whole right now.
