Newcastle's January has been one of the most important transfer windows in the club's recent history. With the window beginning two months on from the notoriously controversial and lucrative takeover, Newcastle have been linked with anybody and everybody in European football.
With an element of desperation in the minds of Newcastle fans, it has been clear that nothing but a significant upgrade to the team's first eleven is acceptable. Targeting players in almost every position, the Magpies ended deadline day with five new signings in total.
Newfound ambition and willingness to spend has proven a double-edged sword, however. When everyone knows you have money to burn, prices tend to be inflated - which Newcastle have learned in their pursuit of a marquee centre-back. The Magpies have missed out on both Diego Carlos and Sven Botman after their respective clubs allegedly raised the asking price in hopes of squeezing every drop of profit out of the deal.
The first signing of the window came in the form of seasoned right-back Kieran Trippier, who registered an assist in the Euro 2020 final this Summer. Trippier, off the back of a title-winning season with Atlético Madrid, kissed goodbye to Champions League prospects in favour of Newcastle's project. The 31 year-old is unequivocally a brilliant signing, bringing experience, leadership and stability to a shaky back line for only £12m.
Next in the door was Burnley forward Chris Wood, whose consistency in the Premier League is often forgotten due to his unglamorous style of play. The Wood deal seemed an apt gambit, covering the injured Callum Wilson while harming a relegation rival. However, £25m may now seem a steep fee considering that Burnley have replaced Wood with the towering Dutch international Wout Weghorst for only £12m.
Newcastle's most exciting signing is certainly Bruno Guimarães. The dynamic midfielder is both creatively and defensively skilled, ranking top in a variety of key statistics in Ligue 1 this season. Sitting in the centre of midfield, the Brazilian international will have what it takes to set the tempo for Newcastle and get the ball into dangerous areas. A bold and brave character, the 24 year-old might prove a snip at £42m, especially considering Newcastle have beat out teams such as Arsenal to secure his signature.
Deadline day saw the arrival of two defensive reinforcements; Brighton's Dan Burn and Aston Villa's Matt Targett. Blyth-born Burn is a consistent and aerially dominant centre-half who will fight tooth and nail to keep his boyhood club in the Premier League. £13m represents good value for the 29 year-old, though it is worth noting that he tends to play in a back three. Targett joins the club on a loan until the end of the season, completing a well-needed upgrade to Newcastle's back line at left-back.
The window saw no signigicant outgoings for the club, aside from a cluster of deadline-day loans. This means that Newcastle's January net spend totals around £90m, the highest in world football.
If context is to be ignored, Newcastle have had a miraculous January - significantly improving their starting lineup and bringing in a marquee midfielder.
However, anything less than miraculous would frankly be a disappointment under the richest owners in football. For this reason, missed opportunities such as Lingard, Ekitike and Carlos may haunt Newcastle if relegation is not avoided.
Have Newcastle done enough to stay up? Their business is undoubtedly the best out of the teams involved in the relegation dogfight. Missing out on Jesse Lingard may prove costly, but if Newcastle's performances can match their project's ambition, then they might just clutch survival.