Newcastle may not have sealed their first summer signing yet.
They may well not have too much money to spend to improve their squad either.
But Steve Bruce has made it clear to the powers that be that he is determined to bring Joe Willock back to St James' Park on a permanent basis, while the Magpies have been linked with cut-price deals with the likes of Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Newcastle are also expected to be busy in the loan and free agency markets as well but what is the current squad looking like heading into pre-season and where needs improvement?
Here's a look at each department ahead of Newcastle's return to training on Monday, July 5.
GOALKEEPER
Newcastle are highly stocked in the goalkeeping department but there could well be a departure in the offing this summer.
Martin Dubravka is Newcastle's undisputed number one, while Karl Darlow impressed in his absence through injury last term.
Freddie Woodman will return to the club this summer on the back of another successful loan spell with Championship side Swansea City, while third choice goalkeeper Mark Gillespie still has another year on his current contract.
The Magpies could recoup a decent fee for both Darlow, who could attract interest from Premier League and Championship clubs looking for a reliable goalkeeper, and Woodman who many feel will become an England international.
Arsenal are keen to sign Woodman this summer and the Magpies could well use the former England under-21 international as a makeweight in a potential deal for Gunners midfielder, Willock, this term.
Squad depth rating: **** (4 out of 5 stars)
RIGHT-WING-BACK
Assuming Bruce sticks with five at the back at the start of next season, the Magpies are likely to have three options at right-wing-back.
Jacob Murphy ended the season as one of the Magpies' most consistent performers and made the right-wing-back slot his own in the second half of the campaign.
The boyhood Newcastle fan looked much more comfortable as a wing-back than he had done as a winger and will likely start the campaign in the starting XI.
Javi Manquillo signed a four-year deal last year but struggled to usurp Murphy from the starting XI, while Emil Krafth has his limitations but is another reliable option.
If any of those players can be sacrificed, that can recoup a decent fee for the transfer kitty, it could well come from Manquillo.
While it is a position that can be improved, it is unlikely to be a priority given the limitations in Newcastle's transfer budget this summer.
Squad depth rating: *** (3 out of 5 stars)
LEFT-WING-BACK
Matt Ritchie ended the campaign at left-wing-back and his impact on the side has largely been attributed as a major reason Newcastle pulled clear of the relegation zone.
However, talk of a return to the South Coast at Bournemouth for family reasons won't go away and given Ritchie is the wrong side of 30, it could well make business sense to cash in while his stock is high.
Jamal Lewis is Newcastle's other major option in this position and while he struggled in his first season at the club, the Magpies are confident the Northern Ireland international will reach the potential that saw him almost join Liverpool last summer.
Should Ritchie depart, the Magpies have been linked with a return for Jetro Willems on a free transfer while Brandon Williams could be available on loan from Manchester United.
Squad depth rating: *** (3 out of 5 stars)
CENTRE-BACKS
Newcastle have a plethora of options at centre-half.
In fact, in Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett and the returning Florian Lejeune from a successful loan spell from Alaves, they have two completely separate back three line-ups.
However, it has long been a position Bruce has been keen to strengthen with Arsenal defender Rob Holding almost joining on loan last season.
With Clark and Fernandez both north of 30, Bruce is said to be keen to bring in a younger ball-playing defender and a move for Celtic's Ajer has been mooted as a result.
Any centre-half arrival will see at least one of the six centre-halves on the books moved on and that will likely be Lejeune who has seemingly fallen out of favour with Bruce after a number of injuries.
Youngster Kell Watts, who still has two years remaining on his current deal at Newcastle, will also return from a successful loan spell from Plymouth and the next step will be for the 21-year-old to move to a Championship club on loan.
Squad depth rating: **** (4 out of 5 stars)
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
Newcastle have plenty of options in midfield but what is glaringly missing is a box to box midfielder.
Jonjo Shelvey emerged as an untouchable under Bruce last season, while Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff have proven to be able partners in midfield.
Willock provided the box to box option during a brilliant loan spell that yielded seven goals in seven consecutive games and he remains Newcastle's top transfer priority this summer.
If United can't sign Willock then Newcastle must sign someone of a similar vein and Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, who impressed at West Brom last term, has been linked on loan.
Jeff Hendrick will have to improve on a poor first season while Matty Longstaff's future will be very interesting this summer.
In the final year of his contract, the 21-year-old barely featured last season and is no longer young enough not to be registered as part of Newcastle's 25-man Premier League squad.
A loan, or even permanent, move could be in the offing this summer.
Squad depth rating: *** (3 out of 5 stars)
Attacking midfielders
If Newcastle are to have a successful season next term then much will depend on the performances of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin.
If the pair can add more goals and assists to their already excellent performance levels then Newcastle could well push towards a top half finish.
Ryan Fraser's debut campaign was disrupted badly by injury and he will hope to showcase the ability that saw him bag eight goals and 15 assists in a breakout 2018/19 campaign.
Given Fraser's injury issues, the Magpies could well rely on the emerging Elliot Anderson to have a breakthrough campaign.
The youngster led Newcastle to the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup and he has been tipped to have a bright future at St James' Park. There has been Championship interest in a loan move so it will be intriguing to see how Newcastle manage his next step.
Any departure would suggest Newcastle need to strengthen their depth in that area and Andros Townsend has been linked with a return on a free transfer.
Squad depth rating: *** (3 out of 5 stars)
FORWARDS
Callum Wilson is Newcastle's X Factor and with a full season without injury, he could push towards the 20-goal mark this season.
The problem for the Magpies is that when Wilson is injured, none of Joelinton, Dwight Gayle or Andy Carroll (if he stays beyond this month) have shown they are capable of taking on the goalscoring burden.
Newcastle probably need a new alternative this summer but if Gayle and Carroll are retained next season it would suggest the Magpies will look elsewhere for new recruits.
Returning loanees Yoshinori Muto and Elias Sorensen have very little chance of breaking into the squad and could be sold to raise funds this summer.
Squad depth rating: ** (2 out of 5 stars)
