Newcastle's seven months after takeover compared to Man City's early transfer splurges

A lot has changed in the seven months since Newcastle were taken over by a mega-money Saudi-backed consortium.

Back in early October, the Magpies were languishing down in 19th place in the Premier League standings, winless and facing the daunting prospect of a perilous scrap to avoid relegation. At the time, the club were still under the ownership of the much-maligned Mike Ashley and were very much devoid of ambition. That would all soon change.

Bankrolled by Saudi billionaires, Newcastle have since gone on to achieve a remarkable turnaround and show no signs of settling for mid-table mediocrity. Sunday's trip to the Etihad will be of added significance to the Magpies' new owners as they prepare to face Manchester City - the club they aspire to emulate. But how do the first seven months of Newcastle's new regime weigh up against City's cash-fuelled charge to the game's summit?

Having purchased Newcastle back in early October, Saudi-consortium Public Investment Fund (PIF), which hold an 80% stake in the club, immediately asserted their intentions. The Magpies new ownership cited both City and Paris Saint-Germain as inspiration as they announced their aims of challenging for trophies and establishing Newcastle as one of football's biggest forces on a global stage.

However, such goals were considered long-term, with small steps very much seen as the way to achieving such aims. The first of those? Installing a manager of pedigree to lead the club's impending revolution.

With Steve Bruce swiftly sacked, the club's owners set about appointing his high-profile successor. Having seen the process to appoint a new manager suffer a series of setbacks, with Villarreal's Unai Emery in particular opting to snub Newcastle's