Bruno Guimaraes is pushing for a move to Arsenal(Image: Serena Taylor, Newcastle United via Getty Images)
It's ruddy difficult for goodness sake when the sale of parachutes is the biggest thing happening on Tyneside but let's get on the front foot and at least attempt to fight back.
While Newcastle United and their fans wait with bated breath for the next episode of the Bruno saga from hell Geordies desperately need a significant lift.
So let United with great determination and haste complete the £49m signing of Swiss super kid Johan Manzambi without any more ado. Argentina did us a favour by knocking the Swiss out of the World Cup and in doing so opened the door to final negotiations.
That means eliminating United's repeated flaw - seeing their deals hijacked - and bringing home the bacon.
All is said to be virtually completed bar the postage stamp on his contract but we've heard that before of course. The latest time with Victor Munoz this very window before Liverpool decided to be a magpie and thieve him away. So forgive us for waiting until a black and white shirt is pulled onto expensive young shoulders to celebrate.
Sure Manzambi is only 20, which means he's inexperienced and therefore a risk, but he's got more proven pedigree than the three kids already in stable and as we're stuck with a policy of raiding football's kindergarten we may as well bring him in.
However should Bruno leave then United must immediately become more flexible than their current framework allows - only sign players 25 or younger - and bus in some experience because three 20 year olds and a teenager won't be enough in the man's world of the PL. A mix is absolutely essential.
The current emphasis exclusively on youth with potential is a risky business, by jove it is, with an uncomfortable feeling that Newcastle, having used an executive to tell us the title could be ours by 2030, have now rowed back in ambition to such an extent that our aim now is to be the most successful of the also-rans outside of the Elite Six. A Brighton or Bournemouth if you like.
Should Geordies need any proof of how far we have fallen from grace and how quickly then we only have to cast our minds back to winning the Carabao Cup at Wembley on March 16 last year beating the champions-elect Liverpool with a glorious display of swashbuckling football.
If Bruno goes it would mean that FIVE first teamers from those days will have left in little more than a year. Is that like taking a sledgehammer to a strong wall?
Match winner Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon who only missed that epic occasion through suspension, and Sandro Tonali have all decided their considerable talent is better employed elsewhere while one of the most influential players Kieran Trippier has accepted a free transfer to move on. Bruno must have taken one look at that mass exodus, realised the current Premier League champions Arsenal want him, and at 28 thought this is the time to pull the lever. What we do know is that he told the club directly that he wants to explore a permanent trip to North London which leaves no doubt in any minds.
Should he quit - and we still live in hope of a reconciliation - then Opta's stats reveal in stark detail what we are losing.
The Magpies have only won 12.5 per cent of their Premier League matches since 2022 without the Brazil international. In the 16 matches where he has not featured in the English top-flight Newcastle have lost nine, drawn five and won just one, averaging 0.7 points per game.
In comparison, when he has been on the field, we have won 52.3 per cent of our games with an average of 1.8 points per outing.
Bruno is the heartbeat of United, the fan connection, the chief carer for the cause.
However there are some walking amongst amongst us who believe he deserves one last hurrah. That he has stuck around longer than most bought in by new owners, is only contemplating leaving because of United's dire situation, and rapidly coming up to 29 this is his last chance for mouth watering wages and a cabinet full of medals.
I can follow that reasoning but being selfish and only considering NUFC, the thought of Bruno leaving only confirms my worst fears about what the immediate future may hold for us.
The reality of course is that the years of devotion given to us by the likes of Euro heroes Bob Moncur, David Craig and Frank Clark are long gone, buried by the intervention of agents who only make the big coin when transfers are in the offing.
I would love to be pleasantly surprised and end up with a team of kids like the Busby Babes and Fergie's Class of 92 but, really, I have as much chance of winning the lottery and I don't even buy a ticket!
Truth is the aspirations of the Saudis, of Amanda Staveley, of Eddie Howe et al upon takeover have been dramatically changed after a 12th place finish. We are suddenly accepting our place in life rather than trying to buck it. Realistic or very disappointing? A lack of interest at the very highest level or trying to take a longer route towards the pinnacle of Everest? Results right from the off next season will provide the definitive answer.