A new season is on the horizon but the future remains shrouded in doubt for Newcastle United.
Hopes of fresh start on Tyneside this summer and the exit of controversial owner Mike Ashley were dashed when a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium pulled out of a £300 million (Dh1.36 billion) deal to buy the club in July.
Thoughts of big-money investment in the club and the region were dashed and the Magpies left in limbo with an owner who wants out and a fanbase even keener for him to go.
Other potential buyers in the US and Singapore have been mentioned and there has also been talk of the Saudi-move being resurrected – but any deal looks a long way off once again.
Last season, new manager Steve Bruce guided Newcastle to 13th place in the Premier League and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 14 years.
A respectable season, certainly in Ashley's eyes, with top-flight football secured for another season but survival looks like the best fans can hope for again in the new campaign.
As for Bruce's first season in the transfer market, you can safely say there is room for improvement.
Club-record £40 million [Dh171m] signing Joelinton was an unmitigated disaster as the Brazilian was handed the famous No 9 shirt but was clearly unsuited to a centre-forward role. He finished his first campaign in black and white with two league goals from 38 games.
Swedish full-back Emil Krafth moved from French side Amiens for £5m but struggled to adapt to the rigours of English football. Striker Andy Carroll rejoined the club on a free transfer but suffered from his usual injury problems and failed to score a goal.
Full-back Dany Rose, central-midfielder Nabil Bentaleb and wideman Valentino Lazaro all arrived on loan in January – from Spurs, Schalke and Inter Milan, respectively – but none saw their moves made permanent.
Allan Saint-Maximin – a £16.5m signing from Nice – was the one and only shining light. An exciting, pacy winger whose marauding runs and ability to ghost past opposition defenders quickly made him a fans' favourite.
The only new arrivals so far for Newcastle ahead of the new season have been former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick and ex-Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, both on free transfers.
Above is a picture gallery of potential transfer targets as well as those who could be on their way out.
To move on to the next image, swipe or click on the arrows.
