It is a year to the day since the summer transfer window of 2020 slammed shut.
The delayed start to the Premier League season shifted the timeline of the transfer market.
We reported at the time that Newcastle held a deadline day loan interest in Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
But it didn’t happen because Newcastle couldn’t shift fringe players Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons and Achraf Lazaar, who earned around £90,000-a-week between them.
Loftus-Cheek spent the campaign at Fulham instead, where he was one of the brightest sparks despite their relegation.
Now, he’s back at Chelsea and while he’s not an automatic first choice for Thomas Tuchel, he’s been impressive this season.
He was the best player on the pitch in their EFL Cup win over Aston Villa last month and played in the 3-1 win over Southampton at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s midfield still needs sorting despite the arrival of Joe Willock.
Isaac Hayden was played in an advanced midfield role at Molineux on Saturday, before being moved to right centre-half before half time.
Another Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher, was a target this summer but he opted for Crystal Palace instead, and he is shining there.
Hamza Choudhury is another long-term target but he remains a Leicester player while Newcastle search for midfield balance.
A problem Newcastle tried and failed to sort a year ago today still troubles them now.
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