List of Newcastle 'transfer targets' from 2021 takeover is being called one of the 'worst teams ever'
A predicted Newcastle XI, based on transfer rumours, that emerged shortly after the club's 2021 takeover has emerged - and it doesn't make for great reading.
The Magpies were bought by a Saudi Arabian-led consortium in October 2021, bringing Mike Ashley's 14-year reign in charge to a close.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) took an 80 per cent share in the club, with Newcastle then able to attract a higher calibre of player to St James' Park.
While spending has increased significantly compared to the previous regime, the Magpies have still had to be cautious, largely owing to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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But when the takeover was completed, many expected their spending to be as high as the giants of world football, with fans and media outlets putting together potential dream XIs.
BBC Sport compiled their own in 2021, combining some existing players with a number of big-money buys based solely on transfer rumours.
With the benefit of hindsight three years on, it's hard to see that XI competing for any major honours - with one fan describing it as the 'worst hypothetical XI ever posted online'.
Here it is in full, with the 3-4-3 formation in use by then Newcastle boss Steve Bruce:
Goalkeeper
Karl Darlow
Karl Darlow joined Newcastle in 2013 as part of a double deal with fellow Nottingham Forest player Jamaal Lascelles.
But he spent most of his time at St James' Park battling to get into the team, and only spent two seasons - one of those in the Championship - as number one choice.
The 31-year-old got the nod in BBC's team, but had already lost his place by then.
He left the Magpies in 2023 and is now at Leeds, where he is the backup goalkeeper behind Illan Meslier.
Defenders
James Tarkowski
James Tarkowski was linked with Newcastle in the early days of the new ownership.
A consistent Premier League centre-back at Burnley, he followed Sean Dyche to Everton in the summer of 2022. The 31-year-old is still at Goodison Park.
Eric Bailly
Eric Bailly's early days at Manchester United were filled with potential, but injuries ruined his time at Old Trafford.
After four appearances for United in the 2021/22 season, he had an ill-fated loan spell at Marseille - which included him being given a seven-match ban for accidentally kicking a player in the chest - and then saw his contract with Besiktas terminated after just three months.
The Ivorian is now back at Villarreal, where he has been a regular starter this season.
Federico Fernandez
Federico Fernandez was a regular starter for Newcastle throughout the tenures of both Rafael Benitez and Steve Bruce, and the Argentinian signed a new deal in July 2021.
But he only made seven appearances in the season of the takeover, and at 33, he left to join Elche on a free transfer the following summer.
Midfielders
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling looked to be on his way out of Manchester City at the time of Newcastle's takeover, with Tyneside perhaps being a potential destination.
That didn't happen, as the England international joined Chelsea, and he is now at Arsenal on a season-long loan during which he has already impressed manager Mikel Arteta.
He was named as a right midfielder in front of a back three in this predicted XI, though, which might not have been the way to go...
Philippe Coutinho
On the opposite flank - or playing as a wing-back - was Philippe Coutinho.
The Barcelona winger would actually end up playing in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season, as he signed for Aston Villa on loan.
His promising early performances convinced Steven Gerrard to sign him permanently, but he struggled for form after that and was quickly discarded by Unai Emery.
Now playing for Brazilian club Vasco de Gama on loan, he's still contracted to Villa.
Aaron Ramsey
Rumours circulated in the summer of 2021 that Aaron Ramsey was considering a return to English football after two years at Juventus.
That didn't happen, as he joined Rangers on loan in January before missing the decisive penalty in their Europa League final.
Ramsey then signed for Nice on a free transfer, and has since spent an injury-hit last 18 months back at boyhood club Cardiff City in the Championship.
Donny van de Beek
Big things were expected of Donny van de Beek when he signed for United from Ajax in 2020.
But barring an occasional contribution, the midfielder never hit the ground running at Old Trafford.
After several loan spells away from the club, he signed for Girona in the summer in a cut-price deal of just €500,000, which could rise to €9.1 million based on performance.
Forwards
Jesse Lingard
At the time, this appeared to be a realistic suggestion, especially as Lingard had come off the back of a loan at West Ham which saw him score nine goals in 16 games.
It was a surprise when he didn't join them permanently the next summer, though perhaps less of a surprise that he still wasn't getting a major look-in at Old Trafford when he returned to Manchester United.
A move to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer followed for the 2022/23 season, but he failed to recapture the form he showed at West Ham.
After a spell out of the game, Lingard signed for South Korean K1 League side FC Seoul in February.
Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial had scored just one league goal that season for Manchester United when Newcastle's takeover occurred, and had an unsuccessful loan spell at Sevilla from January onwards.
He was released by United last summer after another injury-hit campaign, and signed for Greek side AEK Athens.
Mauro Icardi
There was time when it couldn't be called a transfer window without Mauro Icardi getting linked with a move to the Premier League - to the point where he could easily be grouped in with the likes of Leo Baptistao, Medhi Benatia and Yehven Konoplyanka.
Just like all three of those players, Icardi has never sealed a move to English football - although he has continued to score goals.
The 31-year-old was on the fringes at PSG when Newcastle's takeover happened, but has since scored 47 league goals in the last two seasons for Galatasaray.
Topics: Newcastle United, Football, Premier League
The SPORTbible Team