Can Newcastle United become the best football team in the world?

For Newcastle United, immediate success would mean staying in the Premier League. When the Saudi Arabian consortium took over the team, they were 19th in the Premier League table and had gone seven games without a win. Fast forward five months, and the Toon Army are 9 points above the relegation zone and look all set for safety.

The £305m purchase by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) was seen as controversial for many reasons, but the Premier League has recognised the group as a separate entity. For the fans, the takeover is very much about matters on the pitch and just how far their newly-built team will be able to go.

"They can go right to the top. You know, there's no reason why Newcastle United can't be challenging for top honours, and goodness knows the fans deserve it." Andrew Musgrove of the Newcastle Chronicle explained to Football Now.

"It's been really interesting that in January the club didn't have a Director of Football. In any case, Newcastle was in the relegation zone and looking like they would go down. And yet in January, without real experience in the footballing world, they've gone out, and they've signed Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and obviously Bruno Guimares. And all the suggestions are that they are looking to survive the drop. That's without a Director of Football. So imagine what they can do in the summer."

The new signings have proved to be smart acquisitions. The experienced Kieran Trippier has galvanised the squad, and despite an injury ruling him out for at least six weeks, he is an ever-present in the Newcastle dressing room. Meanwhile, Toon striker Chris Wood has scored just once but has been widely praised by fans and manager Eddie Howe, who calls him exceptional. It's a signing that Andrew