One year ago today, life at Newcastle United changed forever. After years of scrimping under Mike Ashley, the Magpies became the richest club in the world overnight following the completion of the Public Investment Fund's protracted £305million takeover.
But rather than getting carried away with their new-found wealth, Newcastle have adopted a shrewd, measured approach; it has been a case of evolution rather than revolution at St James' Park under the guidance of Eddie Howe, who has worked wonders since succeeding the beleaguered Steve Bruce.
When Howe arrived on Tyneside, Newcastle were sleepwalking towards the Championship after falling into a state of disarray. Less than 12 months on and the Magpies have flourished under Howe's guidance and are finally back on an upward trajectory in the Premier League.
As well as having a transformative effect on some of Newcastle's under-performing stars - such as Joelinton, who has thrived since being repackaged as a box-to-box midfielder by Howe - the Magpies boss has also bought into the club's sensible approach in the transfer market.
To date, the club have splashed out £210million on eight major signings; a substantial investment, but not an obscene spend by the standards of the Premier League. In many ways, Newcastle set the tone for their recruitment with their first capture since the takeover was confirmed: Kieran Tripper.
Newcastle's £12m deal to acquire the England right-back from Atletico Madrid last January was regarded as a coup at the time and Trippier's performances since have vindicated that verdict.
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The former Tottenham man quickly became one of the club's most pivotal players and was even handed the captain's armband just weeks after his arrival last term. Trippier's leadership and quality played a key role in the final months of the 2021/22 campaign as the Magpies battled to stave off the threat of relegation.
Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Bruno Guimaraes were the club's other January acquisitions. Although Wood has failed to repay the £25m fee the Magpies forked out to Burnley with a steady stream of goals, the New Zealand forward did help give the side a focal point in their battle to stay up last term, while Burn (£13m) and Targett (initial loan then £15m) instantly added some much-needed resilience and grit to Newcastle's defence.
Like Trippier, Guimaraes (£40m) has been a revelation since the Magpies fended off interest from other big hitters to land the Brazilian maestro, whose unique blend of silk and steel has worked well alongside his compatriot, Joelinton. The classy midfielder has made a seismic impact at the club and is already being courted by European heavyweights after plundering five goals and four assists in just 22 games.
Newcastle continued to build their squad in the most recent transfer window with the captures of Nick Pope (£10m) and Sven Botman (£35m). Both have contributed massively to an impressive defensive record that has formed the bedrock of the Magpies' strong start to the campaign, with the keeper, in particular, catching the eye with a showreel of spectacular saves to further strengthen his England credentials ahead of the World Cup.
The new Newcastle regime smashed their transfer record in the final days of the summer transfer window to bring Alexander Isak to St James' Park in a £60m deal. And the Swedish star, who was heavily linked with Arsenal last year, has made a promising start to life in the Premier League.
He made an instant impact with a classy debut goal against Liverpool last month and has notched twice in just three league appearances for the Magpies, who will be hoping for more of the same from their new main man.
With Isak and Wood now in place alongside Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle suddenly have an abundance of attacking options to fire them up the Premier League table - but there are already plans to take things to the next level.
The Mirror understands that the Magpies are set to rekindle their interest in Leicester City playmaker James Maddison in the January transfer window in a deal that could exceed £40m.
Maddison is one of the top-flight's most consistent creative midfielders and would represent another coup for the new St James' Park hierarchy who are already reaping the rewards from their measured, strategic approach to recruitment since taking charge on Tyneside.
