Newcastle United's summer transfer window could have unfolded very differently. Johan Manzambi, Victor Munoz, and Hugo Ekitike were all targets the club had hoped to bring to St James' Park — yet each of them ended up elsewhere.

Munoz and Ekitike both moved to Liverpool. Benjamin Sesko joined Manchester United. Joao Pedro chose Chelsea. James Trafford, who is still understood to be on Newcastle's radar, completed a move to Manchester City. Manzambi, meanwhile, appears headed to Aston Villa, a club that can offer Champions League football — something Newcastle cannot this season.

A new approach to recruitment

Newcastle have shown resilience in the window. After losing out on Munoz, they moved swiftly and discreetly, signing winger Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim for £43m. Their three signings so far — Toure, midfielder Sean Steur, and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen — are all aged 20 or under.

The shift in recruitment philosophy is striking. Rather than competing pound-for-pound with the Premier League's wealthiest clubs for established stars, Newcastle are targeting hungry young talents before they potentially command fees above £60m. Only five Premier League clubs had an older average starting age than Newcastle during last season's difficult campaign, in which Eddie Howe's side finished 12th.