There are still four days to go until the transfer window opens but the scale of the challenge already facing Newcastle United is clear. Eddie Howe has stressed he only wants 'elite' signings this summer, but there is a need for both quality and quantity ahead of the new season.
Newcastle must box clever amid the multitude of names which have already been linked to St James' Park. Even with a top-four finish and the club's wealthy owners, the Magpies are not yet in a position to compete with their 'Big Six' rivals on an even financial footing.
That should not deter United from dreaming big with their transfer plans though, according to Magpies favourite Warren Barton. The former full-back believes the club have already established a clear 'DNA' with their recruitment so far, and feels they are in a position to start competing for the very best players in the market.
Barton told ChronicleLive: "If I had a wishlist, I'd go with Declan Rice and Mason Mount - those are the type of players you should be looking at. Reece James at Chelsea, I'd tempt them for a player who is versatile in different positions.
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"It might be fairytale, but those are the areas you want to look at. We've looked at Maddison, Ward-Prowse, I know we're looking at Leipzig for players as they have a pedigree of bringing really exciting, young players through.
"I do know for one thing, they will all be strong, powerful, athletic, aggressive, determined, positive players and that's the DNA of what Eddie wants in his players. They are the next level of players, it may be a dream and a fantasy, but why not?"
Less than two years on from the transformative takeover, the transfer remit has already drastically shifted. Howe's side have gone from seeking out proven top-flight performers prepared for a relegation battle to competing for some of the continent's most coveted stars.
Barton added: "You're up against powerful clubs. The pool of players for the top clubs gets smaller because there's only so many top players and everyone wants them. It gets tougher because you're playing against teams the calibre of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich."
The dust has now settled on a season that will live long in the memory of the Toon Army. Newcastle lost just five times in the Premier League en route to booking their place in the Champions League next season.
The Magpies had previously impressed with their form to avoid relegation the previous campaign, but gatecrashing the top four in Howe's first full season in charge was beyond nearly all expectations. United held off a late surge from Liverpool to clinch a Champions League spot with a match to spare, and Barton feels it was vital to capitalise on this opportunity despite those pre-season expecations.
The Fox Sports pundit said: "It's a dream come true for Eddie, the players, the ownership, the fans. Virtually everything that's been laid down by the club and the ownership has worked.
"Everything you would have envisaged, dreamed about and hoped and said your prayers as you went up to St James' Park has paid off, it's been a remarkable turnaround. It's a wonderful thing to experience, it's one of those things in a lifetime that doesn't always happen.
"We had to take that opportunity. You have to do it now while things are going so well because realistically you think Liverpool will kick on, Aston Villa look good, Chelsea you don't know and there's always a Brighton who can surprise everyone. A lot of teams are going to get stronger, so for us to be in there at this time comes with a busy schedule, but that's what successful teams want."
It was a stunning season, but not one without its setbacks. Newcastle reached their first domestic cup final in 24 years with a memorable Carabao Cup run.
Thousands of fans took descended upon the capital, but the final itself was a disappointment as Manchester United proved too strong. For Barton, the latest pain at Wembley was a reminder that despite it being a campaign of many highs, there is still room for improvement for the current side.
He added: "We've done well, but a lot of those Man Utd players have won trophies and we haven't. We've gone there with the expectation, and the fans went down and took over Trafalgar Square.
"That was a reality check, and we had that against Aston Villa as well. We're not the finished article."
Newcastle's rapid rise under Howe means it could be a fool's errand to attempt to predict could be possible next term. There is also still two months to go until the new Premier League season gets under way, by which point the head coach will have hoped to have secured several valued recruits.
Magpies legend Alan Shearer feels a domestic trophy has to be the next objective, having come so close to ending the club's painful drought. It is an assessment which his former team-mate agrees with, although he feels Champions League football now has to become a staple at St James' Park.
Reflecting on next season, Barton said: "The challenge is going to be the congestion of games, and that's why in the transfer window they will be looking at Champions League players, and the regular grind of the Premier League as well. Don't forget, you will have the cup games too which are going to be important.
"You will need a depth of players to come in and rotate. People will want to be a part of the project at Newcastle, they will love the fans, the ownership's ambition and the job Eddie is doing.
"The FA Cup and the Carabao Cup is something they'll be looking at, once you get a taste of it, we want it to be a habit. For me, being in the Champions League on a regular basis is as important as a domestic trophy.
"Playing in the Champions League season in, season out should be the main focus for this football club and if you're doing that, it gives you a good chance of winning a trophy. You've got the depth, the quality, the experience, all of the stuff that goes with a group of players who can be successful."
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