Newcastle United's era of transformation is well and truly underway after they parted company with Steve Bruce on Wednesday afternoon. With the January transfer window just around the corner, Amanda Staveley and co. have the tough task of deciding who to entrust with millions upon millions of pounds to improve the Magpies squad.
Links toBarcelonastar Ousmane Dembele should excite the Toon Army, andExpress Sportlooks at how they could line up if two other free agents follow suit:
Goalkeeper: Dubravka
Newcastle have not been blessed with consistency in goal for the past few seasons.
The likes of Karl Darlow and Freddie Woodman have been forced to deputise due to Martin Dubravka's injury record, but the Slovakian stopper will soon return to action.
Since signing from Sparta Prague back in 2018, the 32-year-old has surpassed expectations to establish himself as a solid Premier League goalkeeper.
As such, splashing out on someone new between the sticks may not be particularly high on the boardroom's priority list.
Ousmane Dembele is the subject of links to Newcastle (Image: GETTY)
Defence: Manquillo, Lascelles, Rudiger, Lewis
Javi Manquillo is not exactly the star-studded name who Newcastle fans may see at right-back in the long term, but his whipped cross was impressive to set up Callum Wilson on Sunday.
On the opposite side of the backline, Jamal Lewis' progress seems to have stalled in light of Bruce's preference for Matt Ritchie, but the 23-year-old showed plenty of promise at Norwich City.
The Magpies could do worse than to recruit a talented side-kick for club captain Jamaal Lascelles, and Antonio Rudiger certainly falls into that category.
The German is reportedly unhappy with how contract negotations are going at Stamford Bridge, so with any luck he could be headed to Tyneside for absolutely nothing in 2022.
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Joe Willock arrived for big money during the summer, and although he has not yet replicated the remarkable scoring run he put together last season, Magpies fans know it is in the tank.
Sean Longstaff has also established a reputation as a dependable Premier League midfielder, although the 23-year-old will have to impress those in the boardroom to earn a vital new contract before the end of the campaign.
Completing the trio could be Manchester United outcast Jesse Lingard.
The England international impressed at West Ham last season, and while his final attempt to break into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team have so far fallen flat, Newcastle could offer him a way out in 2022 when his current contract expires.
Jesse Lingard has been used primarily from the bench this season (Image: GETTY)
Attack: Dembele, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Presenting the Toon Army with the chance to see Allan Saint-Maximin and Ousmane Dembele on opposite flanks is mouth-watering stuff.
The Barcelona star is out of contract at the end of the season, and FootMercato claim that Newcastle are in discussions over a bumper pay boost which could tempt him to make the switch.
Although injuries have blighted his career of late, Dembele set Barca back over £130million back in 2017 and still has so much to give.
Saint-Maximin should perhaps feel safer than anyone in the Newcastle squad in light of his blockbuster performances, while Callum Wilson's superb Premier League goal-scoring record should see his spot safe too.