Newcastle United have not even made the signing of Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba official yet but thoughts are already turning towards what is next in the summer transfer market.
Bamba is set to become the fourth senior signing through the door this summer with the Magpies agreeing a deal worth up to £34million with the principality club. He joins Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure as arrivals through the door this summer with all four Newcastle new boys aged 20 and under.
Bamba should fill the number six slot the Magpies have been trying to recruit this summer and solves one of the club's biggest priorities in the window.
Full-back and goalkeeper remain priorities
But with his arrival expected to be officially confirmed imminently, Newcastle still need to fill a couple of gaping holes in the squad ahead of the Premier League opener against Liverpool in just over four weeks' time.
The first of which is at full-back where Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall remain the only two senior options in the squad. Teenager Leo Shahar is expected to get a run of games in pre-season but a new full-back will absolutely be on the agenda for sporting director Ross Wilson. Ideally, right-back and left-back cover would be signed but it is more likely that a right-back who can play left-back will be sought to offer cover for both sides.
And the second priority absolutely remains a new goalkeeper. Jaouen was recruited with high hopes but his first team experience so far is exclusively limited to the second tier of French football. Nick Pope remains at the club but could leave this summer after a difficult season last term. While the England international was fantastic across his first three seasons at the club, some costly mistakes crept into his game last season.
Trafford and Atubolu off the table
Two players that won't be, though, are James Trafford and Noah Atubolu. Newcastle have tried to sign Trafford the last two summers but cooled their interest this month when Manchester City's financial demands were made apparent. Leeds United look set to sign the England international instead while Atubolu, who is expected to leave Europa League finalists Freiburg this summer, had been linked with the Magpies but no approach has been made.
Parma's Zion Suzuki has been linked with a move, among a whole host of other names, and that remains one of Newcastle's top transfer priorities to resolve this summer.
