NEWCASTLE UNITED are already up and running in the summer transfer window - but what can we expect in the coming weeks and coming months?

Scott Wilson assesses the priorities on Tyneside, potential ins and outs and discusses what a successful window would look like for the Magpies.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES IN THE SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW?

Newcastle’s transfer business for the summer is up and running, with a couple of early boxes already having been ticked. Lewis Hall’s temporary move from Chelsea was turned into a permanent transfer, ensuring the left-back position is covered, while the signing of Lloyd Kelly strengthening things at the heart of the back four.

With Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles expected to miss the start of the season with cruciate injuries, Newcastle still want another centre-half – Tosin Adarabioyo slipped through the net when he went to Chelsea – and the Magpies will also sign a goalkeeper. Talks over Burnley’s James Trafford are already at a reasonably advanced stage.

It’s at the other end of the pitch where Newcastle’s main focus for the rest of the window will be though, specifically in relation to a wide-attacker capable of playing off the right and another striker. Newcastle have inquired about Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, but could be priced out of a move for the French youngster.

WHO COULD LEAVE?

That’s the big question. Will either Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak be leaving Tyneside before the transfer window closes at the end of August?

Newcastle are most vulnerable over Guimaraes as the Brazilian’s contract contains a release clause that enables anyone bidding £100m by June 30 to engineer a deal. Manchester City, Arsenal and Paris St Germain have all been linked, but while the former are regarded as the likeliest to come up with a firm offer, the Magpies have not received a formal approach as of yet.

Arsenal have also been linked with Isak, but given the Swedish striker’s performances in the second half of last season in particular, it would take a bid way in excess of £100m to make Newcastle even consider selling their star striker.

That said, the Magpies need to sell in order to buy because of FFP, so deals for Callum Wilson and/or Miguel Almiron are possible. Martin Dubravka will almost certainly leave, with Celtic pushing for a deal, while there has also been talk of Leicester City interest in Sean Longstaff.

WHAT'S BEEN SAID?

Both Eddie Howe and Darren Eales have been pretty open about the constraints that the Premier League’s current Profit and Sustainability regulations place on Newcastle. As a result, while there is a desire to strengthen the squad, and the Saudi PIF effectively have bottomless pockets with which to fund that strengthening, Newcastle cannot simply go around splashing the cash.

“We are recruiting players who are up and coming,” said Howe, in an interview last month. “Players that haven’t hit their best levels yet. So, we try to get them early, develop them and hope they can grow into those (top) players.

“Those players fit my style really well. You are developing them and growing them in a certain way. Moulding them so they can fit into the team model. If you have a finished product, there’s not much moulding to do there.

“That’s not to say there’s not space for a superstar or a difference-maker – you can accommodate them as well – but for where we are at the moment, with the constraints we’re working under, that’s the best way for us to work.”

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CAN WE EXPECT ANY SURPRISES?

As previously mentioned, the Premier League’s financial rules mean there won’t be an Mbappe or a Bellingham flying into Tyneside anytime soon.

That said, sources claim there is scope for Newcastle to make at least one ‘statement’ signing, particularly if a couple of players leave, and the interest in Olise suggests the Magpies are prepared to spend big on their attack.

The wide-attacking role seems to be the one that Newcastle’s recruitment team are keen to commit the most money to, so mooted potential targets such as Jarrod Bowen are not necessarily unobtainable.

Then, of course, there is the potential for the whole summer to be turned on its head if either Guimarares or Isak leaves for £100m or so. In that scenario, Newcastle will have a huge sum they can be reinvest, but they will need to bring in a genuine A-lister to replace one of their key performers.

WHAT WOULD A SUCCESSFUL WINDOW LOOK LIKE?

At this stage of Newcastle’s development, holding on to both Guimaraes and Isak feels essential. Not only would selling one or the other leave a huge gap that needs filling, it would also send out a depressingly downbeat message off the back of a season in which the Magpies failed to qualify for Europe.

Assuming the pair remain, the addition of three or four players with genuine aspirations of going straight into the first team would represent a decent summer. Signing a right-sider as an upgrade on both Almiron and Jacob Murphy is an obvious priority, and if Wilson leaves, there will be an equally obvious need to reinforce the centre-forward ranks to provide competition for Isak.

The return of Sandro Tonali will bolster the midfield, which looks pretty well-stocked provided no one leaves, but the defence is a worry, especially if Botman’s injury keeps him out until well into the autumn.

Signing Kelly is a decent start, but Fabian Schar will be 33 in December while Lascelles is also on the wrong side of 30. Newcastle could do with another young centre-half they can improve and develop over the course of the next couple of seasons.