WHEN Newcastle United line up for their opening game of the new Premier League season against Nottingham Forest next month, there is every chance they will do so with a back five comprised entirely of players that have joined the club since the start of the year.

Nick Pope, fresh from his summer move from Burnley, will almost certainly start in goal, getting the nod ahead of Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow. Kieran Trippier, a January signing from Atletico Madrid, will be at right-back, with Matt Targett, a summer addition from Aston Villa, on the opposite flank. In between them, January recruit Dan Burn will play alongside Sven Botman, whose switch from Lille was confirmed on Tuesday night.

Five players, brought in over the course of the last six months for a combined total of around £90m. In comparison, Manchester United spent £80m just to sign Harry Maguire three summers ago.

For all that the ‘richest club in the world’ tag has proved something of a millstone for the Magpies, who are repeatedly quoted inflated fees because of the perception that they have money to burn, the evidence from the last two transfer windows suggests the club’s new recruitment team are adept at both spotting a bargain and standing firm when negotiations prove tricky.

It would have been easy to throw whatever Lille were wanting in the direction of the French club when the Botman deal was on the brink of collapse earlier this month, but despite competition from AC Milan, the Newcastle hierarchy stood firm. They knew Milan were not in a position to match their offer, and were always confident Botman could be persuaded to move to St James’ Park rather than the San Siro given the discussions that had taken place in the previous January. It took a little bit longer than they might have anticipated, but Newcastle’s resolve was eventually rewarded as they got their man for around €35m, a fee that could quickly start looking like a bargain if the 22-year-old lives up to his abundant potential in the Premier League next season.

Amanda Staveley and her fellow directors have successfully proved they are no pushovers, Eddie Howe has been able to completely overhaul his defence without having to resort to the kind of ‘trophy signings’ that might have excited supporters, but that would almost certainly have disrupted the dressing-room harmony that proved such a powerful asset last season.

So far, so good. But while it might be a sweeping generalisation to claim defenders are generally easier to buy than forwards, the statement tends to ring true. Newcastle still need a new centre-forward, and are also keen to recruit a wide-attacker before the window swings shut. Getting them in while still sticking rigidly to their pre-agreed budgetary limits could be quite a challenge.

As the ongoing Hugo Ekitike saga proves, signing a striker can often be a tortuous and expensive affair. At various stages of the summer, Newcastle have felt that a deal for the Reims striker was set to go through, only for the goalposts to be shifted. Does Ekitike want to join the Magpies? Speak to sources close to the discussions and the strong suggestion is that no one really knows, especially once the motives of his representatives are added to the mix.

The Northern Echo:

The wisest thing at the moment is for Newcastle to do exactly what they have done – step away and allow the dust to settle, especially with contradictory noises coming out of Paris St Germain about whether the French champions are genuinely interested in the 20-year-old.

However, the alternative options currently on the table are not really any easier to assess or simpler to sign. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injury prone, and regarded as one of Everton’s leading assets. Armando Broja showcased his potential with Southampton last season, but as things stand, Chelsea remain unsure whether they want to send him out on another loan. Nice’s Amine Gouiri is hugely exciting, but is being linked with half of Europe and is valued at around €60m.

Similarly, while Newcastle have assembled a list of wide-attacking targets, none look particularly easy to sign. Raphinha is out of their price bracket, and appears destined for Chelsea. Moussa Diaby is a long-term target, but Bayer Leverkusen are quoting ridiculous prices and can afford to stand firm after qualifying for the Champions League. Jack Harrison has his champions within the corridors of power at St James’, but will Leeds really sell in a summer when they are already losing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips?

The rest of the summer window could well prove tricky, but unlike in other years, Newcastle will head into July and August having made an extremely strong start. Under Mike Ashley, transfers tended to be either non-existent or rushed through in a panic. Now, there is method rather than madness.

The ‘richest club in the world’ moniker always felt somewhat ridiculous; instead, Newcastle will settle for being the most savvy and strategic.