Eddie Howe and Co could face a big summer of transfers both in and out of St James' Park
The Newcastle United team line up ahead of the UEFA Champions League match with Barcelona
Newcastle United could face interest in several players this summer
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"Newcastle United is bigger than anyone". Six words from Tyneside hero Kevin Keegan that Newcastle United - and their supporters - would do well to heed this summer. The transfer window is still two months away, but already we're hearing plenty of rumours that big-name stars could be heading for the exit doors.
The lack of Champions League football next season - indeed they face a battle to secure a place in any European competition - will, we're told. mean that the cream of the crop will look elsewhere.
Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have all been linked with moves away from St James' Park in what will be a seismic summer, no matter what happens.
It should be noted that none of those players listed above have given any indication that they're unhappy, with several going on the record to diismiss transfer rumours out of hand.
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But while that's encouraging, Newcastle know from the painful Alexander Isak experience almost 12 months ago, that if an elite club coming knocking, United are not quite at the stage where they can confidently expect any player to choose to stay put.
It's hard to lay much blame for what happened last year at Newcaste's door, but they must learn the lessons of that difficult experience.
And that means that if there is any indication that a big-name player wants to leave this summer, they must not let it drag on for any length of time.
If attempts to persuade him to stay prove fruitless then United must bite the bullet and ensure a quick sale, for everyone's benefit.
Newcastle are still feeling the affects of the Isak saga, with two rushed purchases in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa proving to be a disaster, certainly in the short term.
There is hope Woltemade will eventually become the player we've all seen glimpses of, but while replacing Isak was always going to be difficult, they got nowhere close.
What's certain is that task would have been easier - although still challenging - had they had the time and cash in the bank to deal with it in June or July, instead of the final days of the window.
The World Cup will inevitably delay any transfer decisions, but United must be firm and impose their own deadlines for anyone who wants to leave.
Only then can they give themselves the best chance of building a squad fit to take the club back to challenging at the top end of the Premier League.
After all, as Keegan said, no one is bigger than the club.
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