Newcastle United are busy in the summer transfer window with both incomings and beloved stars departing St James' Park
Jack Colback of Newcastle United (L) is congratulated on scoring their second goal by Paul Dummett (C) and Fabricio Coloccini of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Burnley at St James' Park on January 1, 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Newcastle could look to the free agency market this summer(Image: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
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Newcastle United have had a mixed bag so far this transfer window, with some major outgoings and transfers heading into the north east. Eddie Howe's side finished mid-table last season, coming in 12th place in the Premier League.
They had some impressive performances in the Champions League but ultimately fell short of securing any silverware. Fans have also been left disappointed by a number of key stars heading towards the St James' Park exit door this summer.
So far, Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have all moved on to pastures new across Spain and England. Bruno Guimaraes has also been linked with a shock move to Arsenal this summer, bringing more frustration to a disappointed support.
Howe has added a number of players to the squad following these exits, including Ewen Jaouen from Stade de Reims, Bazoumana Touré from TSG Hoffenheim and most recently, Ajax's Sean Steur. While these signings all cost the north east club a combined £83million, the Newcastle boss could look to the free agency market to keep the club on the right path financially.
Here, Chronicle Live have looked back at three free agent signings Newcastle made that turned heads.
John Barnes
John Barnes is most known for his time at Liverpool, where he scored 107 goals and assisted 92 times in 117 appearances. The left-winger played across a number of positions in the forward line and also shone brightly for England.
Barnes earned 79 caps for his country after choosing to represent the Three Lions over Jamaica. He scored 11 goals and played at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 1988 UEFA European Championship.
John Barnes.
John Barnes made the move from Liverpool to Newcastle(Image: Clive Brunskill /Allsport)
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By the time he made a free transfer to Newcastle in 1997, Barnes was 33 years old and in the twilight of his career. The attacker was snapped up by ex-team-mate and Magpies boss Sir Kenny Dalglish, and was used as a second striker to Alan Shearer.
He made 41 appearances across two seasons for the club, scoring seven goals and assisting once. Another free transfer came in the January transfer window of 1999 to Charlton Athletic and he failed to score in the half a season he was there.
Barnes eventually retired with 696 appearances, 178 goals, 103 assists, two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup - all of which were with the Reds.
Ian Rush
Ian Rush was another player who found stardom at Anfield, scoring 339 goals and assisting on 110 occasions over two stints with Liverpool. The striker became an icon for club and country during the 1980s and 1990s, earning 73 caps for Wales and scoring 28 goals.
Ian Rush after signing for Newcastle United on a free transfer from Leeds United
Ian Rush joined Newcastle in the same year as Barnes(Image: Press Association)
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He joined the Magpies at the same time as Barnes for the same price - nothing - but spent less time in the north east. Rush made just 14 appearances in black-and-white, scoring twice and assisting once.
Shearer claimed his position as Newcastle's No. 1 striker once he returned from injury but Rush did help the club reach their first FA Cup final in 24 years - scoring an important goal against Everton to ensure they reached Wembley.
The ex-Wales international did not win any silverware with Newcastle but did collect plenty of major honours during his time at Liverpool. He won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, four League Cups and two European Cups.
Jack Colback
Jack Colback made the rare transfer from a direct rival to Newcastle, signing from Sunderland on a free. At the time in 2014, the defensive midfielder admitted that "the majority of Sunderland fans will hate me for the rest of my life" for the move.
Newcastle player Jack Colback.
Jack Colback made the controversial move from Sunderland to Newcastle(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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However, Colback was extremely proud to be the first player to cross the divide since Lionel Perez in 1998. He said: "To be able to come to my hometown team is a special move, it feels different to any other move. I'm going to be immensely proud to pull on the black and white shirt. It's a massive club with huge potential."
Across 135 appearances for Sunderland - where he joined as a young boy and moved up the academy levels - Colback made 11 goal contributions in total. Once he moved to Newcastle, the midfielder's return improved slightly - with five goals and 10 assists - but he ended up making less appearances for the Magpies, with 102.
Colback made further moves to Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers and even eighth-tier side Anstey Nomads earlier this year. The 36-year-old is now retired after making 56 goal contributions across 490 appearances in his career.
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