Newcastle United ended the season with a 2-0 win at Fulham to finish 12th in The Premier League after five wins in the last eight games to make a mockery of anybody who thought they were doomed after the Brighton loss with Manager of the Month for April Steve Bruce suggesting his critics and doubters eat "humble pie" after the run.

With influential talisman Allan Saint-Maximin back fully fit, JonJo Shelvey Captain and Joe Willock netting a goal every game in the last seven matches to equal Alan Shearer's record for Newcastle and win May's Player of the Month award, The Magpies regained their early season form pre-Corona Virus outbreak when everyone was fit to make any relegation fears ridiculous and even earned an England call-up for coach Graeme Jones.

It is imperative Newcastle begin next season on the high note on which they ended it and that will be guaranteed by the right signings & learning the lessons of last season - the key ones being Newcastle are seriously weakened without Allan Saint-Maximin, Europe's if not the planet's best dribbler, without whom Newcastle won just 2 of their 12 Premier League victories, and Callum Wilson, whose 12 goals in 26 games were crucial and missed in his absence.

Newcastle need more goals in the squad and more cover for their creative catalyst so these are the players I would sign when the transfer window opens on June 9th, 2021:

  1. Joe Willock - Arsenal - Box-to-Box Midfielder - £18M

Steve Bruce had been hankering after an athletic, goalscoring box-to-box midfielder ever since he got the St. James' Park job and assessed his squad and he finally got his wish in January when Newcastle captured former England U21 player Joe Willock on loan.

Willock had been a bit-part Cup player on the fringes at Arsenal but made an instant impact scoring on his Premier League debut within 16 minutes against Southampton - one of only two games he and the other members of Newcastle's Fab Four - Wilson, Saint-Maximin and Almiron started together - in a 3-2 win. (the only other match they all started was the ultra-impressive 4-2 win at Leicester City).

Six games without a goal followed after injuries to the other three and Willock lost his place but when they returned, so did he and Newcastle's best form as he scored 7 goals in his last 7 games in a Papiss Cisse-esque goal glut including goals against 5 of the Top 7 clubs in The Premier League. That was a purple patch that could have propelled him into the England squad and while Willock cannot be expected to score every game, £18M is a reasonable price for his services.

2. Hatem Ben Arfa - Free Agent - Attacker / No. 10. / Winger

One of Newcastle's major problems is that when Allan Saint-Maximin is injured, The Magpies look one-dimensional and lack a direct, creative threat and the Frenchman missed 15 Premier League games last season and 13 top flight games in 2019/20.

Yet what if there were two of him? An ASM clone to play when he is out of action would be ideal but a former United favourite would be the next best alternative and the two flying Frenchman together would be a daunting prospect for any opposition defence.

The Saint was the no. 1 dribbler in Europe last season with 5.5 success dribbles per game ahead of Neymar and Messi with 5.2 and 4.7 respectively, but Ben Arfa was 8th on the list with 4 dribbles per match proving he still had the right stuff at Bordeaux:

Steve Bruce managed Ben Arfa at Hull City and rated the player very highly until they had their problems after he hauled him off before half-time against Man United accusing him of a lack of effort but Ben Arfa has matured since then.

Bruce has proven with Matt Ritchie this season he can bury the hatchet after a dispute and it would certainly earn the Geordie manager some major brownie points with fans on Tyneside who were sorry to see the maverick leave and as a free transfer it is a no-brainer.

3. Myron Boadu - AK Alkmaar - Goal Machine - £20M

The 20 year-old Dutch international striker has been on Newcastle's radar for 18 months but The Magpies may have to act quickly to get their man amid growing interest and competition as the goals continue to flow - 13 again in The Eredivise for AK Alkmaar last season - and another two against France U21 for Holland U21 last night.

I've nominated his signing in the past two windows and Stan Collymore has recently urged Liverpool to move for the 6ft striker with pace to burn, who would be the ideal man to partner Callum Wilson in the United attack and take Newcastle to another level.

4. Matheus Pereira - West Bromwich Albion - Attacking Midfield/Winger - £15M

The left-footed attacking playmaker would be a dream signing for Newcastle adding extra creativity and thrust not to mention goals - he scored 11 in 33 games last season in his first Premier League season including a handful of penalties - so is hot property.

Newcastle legend Steve Howey has urged his former club to sign the player:

“I think Newcastle would do well signing him because I think he’s a decent player. You look at the teams that get relegated and they always seem to lose their best players."

and although they may face competition from Aston Villa and Leeds, The Magpies have pulled off deals for relegated players before notably Demba Ba and Loic Remy and the 25 year-old may get the best out of fellow Brazilian Joelinton at St. James' Park.

5. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Liverpool - Central Midfield - £16M

The explosive England midfielder only made 13 appearances for Liverpool last season scoring one goal and missed out on the chance of going to Euro 2020 as a result and he could be surplus to requirements at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp rebuilds his squad.

If Newcastle miss out on Willock then The Ox, now 27, would be a great alternative and would add experience, pace, power, running, assists and goals to The Magpies midfield:

Intriguingly, his Geordie girlfriend Perrie Edwards from the world's best girl band, Little Mix, is pregnant and may want to move closer to her family home in Newcastle.

6. Kristoff Ajer - Celtic - Roving Centre Back - £6M

Newcastle have been heavily linked with the 23 year-old Norwegian defender amid reports Steve Bruce wants to strengthen Newcastle's spine and the 6ft 6in international defender would certainly do that. Naturally good in the air and strong in the tackle, Ajer's rarer ability is bringing the ball out of defence, initiating and joining attacks so possesses the comfortability with the ball The Magpies are looking for as they evolve to playing out from the back as was in evidence at the tail end of last season.

With an eye for a goal and a pass, the defender has the lot although Newcastle may face late competition from Bayer Leverkusen for his signature.

Stuart Latimer