Harvey Barnes, Moussa Diaby, James Maddison, Declan Rice and Victor Osimhen. It is safe to say Newcastle United will not be pulling any punches when it comes to the second phase of the rebuild, judging by the reported summer shortlist.
Expectations among the Toon Army over the scale of future spending has successfully been tempered after repeated notes of caution from Dan Ashworth, Eddie Howe and even co-owner Amanda Staveley. The narrative change is so clear that after fresh transfer reports emerged this week, the interest in Champions League-calibre stars for a side currently sat in the top four was met with disbelief by many.
The heavy defeat to Aston Villa along with the 'worst' performance this season could yet prove to have little to no impact on Newcastle's elite ambitions. Victory over Tottenham at St James' Park on Sunday would establish a six-point cushion and the advantage of a game in hand with just seven matches remaining.
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Having lost just four Premier League matches all season, even the most pessimistic would find it hard to argue against the prospect of the Magpies qualifying for Europe next season. Regardless of the competition, it looks like Tyneside will be set to welcome European nights back for the first time in a decade.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Newcastle to prioritise 'elite' targets in the next window regardless of the inflated costs. Despite the concerns and gaps over the current squad, this is a side which have occupied the top four for most of the campaign and set a club record after going 17 matches unbeaten in the top-flight.
Although careful to sidestep any reference to Rice in the question, Howe recently stressed he had an 'elite' squad at his disposal and any incomings would have to raise the bar. Champions League qualification way ahead of schedule could come at the ideal time to provide breathing room for the next phase of the club's evolution.
The Telegraph claim the Magpies' rapid progress has convinced the hierarchy to shift their strategy and be bold in their approach, with a remit to sign at least four 'elite' players this summer. Standout Premier League performers such as Jarrod Bowen, Conor Gallagher, Kalvin Phillips and Kieran Tierney are on the club's radar, along with European talents such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marcus Thuram and Gabri Veiga.
It seems outlandish on first glance, given the Newcastle could not afford a loan fee for Hamza Choudhury not so long ago. But at the same time, the majority of these players have been repeatedly linked with Newcastle in recent months.
It is not a knee-jerk response to what will surely go down as one of the most memorable seasons for the Magpies in decades. Newcastle have already proven in their sustained pursuits of Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon, along with the club-record deal for Alexander Isak, that the 'richest club in the world' moniker will not result in inflated price tags.
The first window under the new owners necessitated a slight deviation from the otherwise evident transfer formula now in place at St James' Park. Experienced and proven Premier League performers were parachuted in to help drag the club to safety, but the steady recruitment of stars from the continent alongside this is a clear pattern which will almost certainly continue.
Botman and Isak, along with Bruno Guimaraes, are clearly signings intended to grow and help lead Newcastle's development at each stage of their eventual journey to hopefully competing for the top trophies. The latest indications over the summer plans suggest this trio could see at least one further addition in the coming months.
Of course, FFP remains a caveat with the MailOnline insisting Newcastle will not 'shatter their wage structure' despite this intention to spend big in the summer. The current wage-to-turnover ratio is also a concern with Europe looming, given UEFA's squad cost rule which will tighten over the next two seasons.
However, the introduction of a new sponsor in place of Fun88 will increase the Magpies wiggle room in the market. European football, no matter the competition, will also give the commercial department greater room for manouevere for reaching 'fair market' agreements to bolster the club's revenue streams.
Given months of caution, it was understandable for fans to be surprised by the reported change in tack for the upcoming transfer window. But with the brisk turnaround under Howe and the demands European football will bring, it would be wrong for Newcastle to do anything other than press on with their 'elite' plan this summer.
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