Premier League rankings: Newcastle United analysis, line-up & predicted finish

May 27: Reports surface of a takeover for Newcastle led by Dubai-based billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

May 28: Newcastle are backed to finish in the Premier League's top four and win the title. Newspapers mock up how Rafael Benitez's side could look as all kinds of fanciful players are linked with a switch to Tyneside. Jose Mourinho is mentioned as a possible replacement should the soon-to-be-out-of-contract Benitez leave.

June 15: More newspaper reports that talks are progressing well and the Premier League are reviewing Sheikh Khaled's proof of funds.

June 24: Newcastle announce Benitez is leaving the club and their relegation price is immediately halved. Mourinho, Garry Monk and Mikel Arteta are suggested as candidates.

June 25: Mourinho rules himself out of Newcastle job.

July 9: With takeover news ominously quiet, Steve Bruce pops up as the new favourite to fill the vacancy.

July 17: Newcastle appoint Bruce as manager. #BruceOut trends, Toon Army threaten a boycott of the opening match and United are once again chopped for relegation.

May 2020: Relegation confirmed?

After the summer Newcastle have had it's just as well owner Mike Ashley is not interested in winning popularity contests and not even the club-record transfer fee paid to Hoffenheim for Joelinton has lifted the fog on the Tyne for grumpy Geordies.

Renowned cheapskate Ashley can lay claim to twice breaking Newcastle's transfer record in 2019 – Miguel Almiron signed in January and alongside Joelinton will be asked to strike a relationship to match that of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon.

Rondon exited to join Benitez in China and Perez departed for Leicester, leaving Bruce with 23 goals to find on last season just to try to match their 13th-place finish.

At least Sean Longstaff has remained which is a bonus for Bruce.

The midfielder was a revelation last term, quickly impressing with his pressing, although depressingly for Newcastle supporters Longstaff won't be playing under their beloved Rafa and they are relegation candidates.

Possible team 3-5-1-1: Dubravka; Schar, Lascelles, Dummett; Yedlin, Longstaff, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie; Almiron; Joelinton.

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