Many thought PIF buying Newcastle United would result in much wilder signings than it did, as this predicted XI from 2020 shows.
After years of speculation and one close encounter, PIF finally bought Newcastle United in 2021 and the club has been transformed since.
Hiring Eddie Howe as Steve Bruce’s replacement was the first smart move the new owners made, followed by hundreds of millions being spent on transfers and the long wait for a trophy finally coming to an end.
Fans may have given up on players of such incredible quality as Sandro Tonali, Nick Woltemade and Bruno Guimaraes ever gracing St. James’ Park again, but being able to spend over £730m on stars has changed that.
Yet, even though Newcastle have spent so much (even after taking a year off due to PSR restrictions), the spending hasn’t been anywhere near as silly as many predicted it would be before PIF took the reins.
Some outlets claimed superstar players like Gareth Bale or Kylian Mbappe could have been signed, something that obviously never came to pass, and predicted teams from before the takeover make for hilarious reading.
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Newcastle were predicted to sign Bale, Cavani and Vidal
Newcastle were linked with reams of quality players as it became clear they were soon to have their transfer coffers stuffed, while there were also occasions when it was sensationally claimed they could sign some of the game’s biggest stars.
A story from The Sun in April 2020, over a year before the takeover eventually went through, shared a ‘likely lineup’, and it’s startling what was predicted.
The article didn’t think Newcastle would bother recruiting any defenders in their first window, instead sticking with a back-line of Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez and Danny Rose, ahead of Martin Dubravka in goal.
Further forward is where it gets interesting. In a 4-4-2, the signings of Real Madrid’s out-of-favour Gareth Bale, Barcelona’s Arturo Vidal and Aston Villa’s John McGinn would all be made, with Allan Saint-Maximin staying out on the left wing.
Up front, a strike partnership of PSG veteran Edinson Cavani and Solomon Rondon, returning a year on from his successful loan spell, was touted.
Though links with McGinn did seem more concrete (and even briefly resurfaced in 2025), none of the proposed signings remotely came close to happening.
Who PIF signed in their first transfer window at Newcastle United
PIF’s first transfer window at Newcastle came in January 2022, and though a lot of money was spent, it was nowhere near as outlandish.
The Magpies, who were struggling at the bottom of the table, instead spent with the purpose of getting out of trouble, which included signing relegation rival Burnley’s top scorer in Chris Wood.
PIF’s signings in first Newcastle transfer window:
- Bruno Guimaraes – Lyon – £41.65m
- Chris Wood – Burnley – £25m
- Dan Burn – Brighton – £13m
- Kieran Trippier – Atletico Madrid – £12m
- Matt Targett – Aston Villa – Loan
Money was also spent on not just one but three defenders, with experienced Premier League operators Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett all recruited. Far from what was predicted.
There was room for one statement signing in the £91.65m outlay, though, in the form of star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon.
The fact that three of those five signings remain crucial to Howe’s plans nearly four years later shows just how much better the club has been in the transfer window than anyone predicted.
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