It would be an understatement to say that it's a big summer for Newcastle United. 12 months of disastrous recruitment has left them stranded in mid-table in the Premier League, with Champions League qualification a mere fantasy.
Something must change and new sporting director Ross Wilson will be desperate to make his mark, using the riches of PIF to do so this summer.
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Whether that means the end of the line for Eddie Howe or simply further, better backing remains the big question. Either way, those at St James' Park simply cannot afford to get it wrong again.
What Wilson should prioritise at Newcastle this summer
Newcastle were one of the most entertaining sides to watch last season. They would often swarm sides physically, whilst providing technicians such as Alexander Isak with the chance to grab the headlines.
12 months later, they've fallen victim to the newfound pragmatism spreading through the Premier League like an unavoidable plague. And it's Howe's door which has been marked with death as a result.
Most valuable players in the Premier League (Haaland, Saka, Rice, Palmer, Wirtz, Isak, Szoboszlai)
Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa have all failed to hit the heights. So much so that their record signing has gone from replacing Isak to taking a Joelinton-esque route into midfield in recent months.
It's an attacking rebuild which looks more unlikely to work out with every week and Newcastle must turn their focus towards alternative options this summer.
Nick Woltemade for Newcastle
First on Wilson's priority list on that front should be a dynamic forward - someone who has the ability to drag Newcastle through games with one moment of quality. That is what the Magpies are truly lacking, as much as Anthony Gordon has tried to fill that role.
The sporting director seems to be well aware of that too, given that those in Tyneside have already been linked with Goncalo Ramos, and according to Fabrizio Romano, agreed a deal to sign Johan Martinez.
Newcastle's new Ben Arfa in waiting
If Newcastle could travel back in time to around 15 years ago, then they'd grab Hatem Ben Arfa and bring him to this current era of Premier League football, which is starved of creativity.
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Ben Arfa
In an era of pragmatism, Ben Arfa would rip up the script in a way that not many players can these days. The Frenchman, on his day, was untouchable in possession. A dribbling sensation, he scored just 14 goals in 86 Toon appearances but the impression he left on those on Tyneside was long-lasting.
The bad news for Newcastle is that time travel doesn't quite exist as of yet and Ben Arfa's Premier League days are long behind him. The good news is that Wilson has just agreed a deal with a player who could follow in his footsteps.
Heralded as an "exciting" talent by the Telegraph's Luke Edwards, Martinez is certainly one to watch. The 16-year-old looks set to become the latest South American to burst onto the scene in English football when he turns 18 - this time at the benefit of Newcastle.
It makes perfect sense that a deal to sign the attacker has come now. The Magpies appointed Thomas Federspiel as a global talent scout in Brazil back in December and are already set to reap the rewards for doing so. They have raided one of the best youth systems in the world - Independiente del Valle - to prise away a talent who's following in the footsteps of fellow Ecuadorians; Moises Caicedo, William Pacho and Piero Hincapie.
Like Ben Arfa all those years ago, Martinez is certainly brave in possession. He's not the type of forward who will look to pass sideways as soon as possible. Where there is a marker, there is a take-on from the Colombian teenager.
It's a big step up in the Premier League, but Martinez's confidence will take him far. One look at his performances for Independiente del Valle, and it becomes clear that the 16-year-old has the flair that English football is desperate for.
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