Newcastle United fell by the wayside this season, but Eddie Howe has all the tools to create a successful new chapter at St. James' Park.
As much as the Magpies would want to play in Europe next year, the breathing room that will be given to them following a 13th-place Premier League finish could be important as Howe puts the recent wrongs to rights.
Look at Manchester United's resurgence under Michael Carrick, with a reduced calendar allowing them to make headway and qualify for the Champions League.
The ethos right now is one of short-term pain, long-term gain. The sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, for an initial £69m fee, emphasises that. Gordon had taken on a talismanic role after Alexander Isak's record-breaking move to Liverpool, scoring 17 goals across all competitions.
Anthony Gordon joins Barcelona
It goes without saying that the England winger needs replacing with a top-class forward, but Howe has further creases to iron out, with Sandro Tonali's future on Tyneside also uncertain.
Why Newcastle are in talks to sign a midfielder
It's no surprise that top Premier League outfits such as Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in Tonali, who is one of the most intelligent and elegant midfielders in Europe.
He's also physically robust and tenacious on the ball, and while speculation is intense right now, Newcastle will hope to keep onto him for a while yet.
However, that doesn't mean the Magpies should neglect their engine room, with Joelinton on the decline.
According to Sports Boom, Newcastle have been holding internal talks regarding a deal for young AS Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli, who is valued at €35m (£30m).
niccolo-pisilli-roma
Tottenham Hotspur are also strong contenders, viewing the 21-year-old Italian as a strong fit for Roberto De Zerbi's midfield, and Juventus are keen too.
Why Pisilli could be a Joelinton upgrade for Newcastle
Pisilli, 21, played an increasingly important role for Roma this season, helping them secure a top-three finish, and Champions League qualification, for the first time since 2016/17.
An "incredible" talent, as described by former manager Ivan Juric, the Italy international's presence in the middle of the park has paid dividends for his resurgent side, and as he continues to improve over the coming years, he could become one of Europe's standout box-to-box midfielders.
It's the right time for Joelinton to move on, or at least take a backseat so Howe's system and return to the fore, back to that level from before, qualifying for the Champions League and winning titles.
joelinton-newcastle
The hulking Brazilian is still an important part of Newcastle's set-up, but the fact that he's now losing more ground battles than he wins, covering less ground besides, calls for renovations in the middle of the Toon park.
It's no exaggeration to say that Joelinton has been one of Howe's key cogs at Newcastle, so powerful and tenacious in a tactical relocation that saved him from being condemned to the hall of shame as one of the Premier League's most ineffective strikers of all time.
Howe's Most-used Players at Newcastle
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Pisilli might not be as naturally physical as someone like Joelinton (how many top midfielders can say that they are?), but he has made significant progress this year, scoring two goals and providing four assists across only 13 Serie A starts, capable of controlling the flow of a game and maintaining focus on positive attacking play.
Though the young Italian will need to continue to develop as a physical centre-midfielder, he ranked among the top 4% of positional peers in the Italian top flight this year for interceptions, also excelling in making recoveries across the park.
Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli
This is all to say that Pisilli is the real deal, someone who could mark a shrewd piece of business for Newcastle as they look to get back on track.
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