Can you believe the Premier League season is just over a week away? Nobody is perhaps fearing the season opener more than the Newcastle United boardroom.
It has been - to put it mildly - a disastrous summer for the Magpies. Eddie Howe called for swift action in May but he has watched on as Newcastle struggle from one deal to another.
A month remains of the transfer window for United to get their act together ahead of a Champions League season. But any incomings - aside from sole addition Anthony Elanga - will struggled to get bedded in before the Premier League opener.
With an Alexander Isak transfer saga also unfolding, Newcastle find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Few could have predicted the chaos when the Magpies ended the 2024-25 season on a high with Champions League qualification.
On an exciting note, Newcastle also have the small matter of renewing their hostilities with bitter rivals Sunderland. The Black Cats are set to embark on their first top-flight adventure since 2016-17.
Both clubs expect to be competing at different ends of the table come May but come head-to-head on December 13 on Wearside. Courtesy of our sister title SussexWorld, a supercomputer has predicted where Newcastle will finish.
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1. 20th: Sunderland
The Black Cats are being tipped to go straight back down | Getty Images
2. 19th: Burnley
The Clarets were promoted after finishing second in the Championship but are forecast for an immediate relegation | Getty Images
3. 18th: Leeds United
The Championship winners are tipped to complete the set of newly-promoted clubs all going back down | Getty Images
4. 17th: Wolves
The club are forecast to be involved in a relegation battle again but predicted to survive | Wolves via Getty Images