Breaking The Transfer Record? The 12 Most Expensive Transfers In Newcastle United's History

Newcastle United are in negotiations for a striker whose fee may break the eight-figure mark as we move towards crunch time in the January transfer window.

The Magpies are yet to sign anyone during a crucial period for the club, who sit a point above the relegation zone ahead of a run of pivotal fixtures in the coming weeks.

And after glacial progress in the first days of the window – including Rafa Benitez repeatedly stating that he did not know his budget – the mood music has changed in the last few days. Whether the club will back up those words with signings is yet to be seen but the noise coming from the club is that they are prepared to invest.

In the club’s history they have signed 12 players for £10million or more in a period stretching 22 years from when they broke the world transfer record in 1996.

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They have the oldest transfer record in the Premier League – the £16million spent on Michael Owen in 2005 – but broke the eight-figure barrier five times under Steve McClaren. Rafa Benitez has done it three times while it was never broken under Alan Pardew in his four-year spell at Newcastle.

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It really brings home the waste of the McClaren era, when United seemed to have more resources but a head coach who didn’t make the most of them and a squad that lacked balance.

As United seem ready to dip back into the market again, here are the eight-figure signings Newcastle have made.

Time Line

1. United have the longest-standing transfer record in the Premier League, stretching back to the 2005 deal that brought Owen to Tyneside from Real Madrid.

   Owen scored his fair share of goals - 26 goals in 71 games - but Freddy Shepherd later went on to speak of his regret at the signing.

2. Newcastle's biggest - in terms of stature - and best transfer. The world record tumbled as Kevin Keegan secured the signature of the most sought-after striker in British football at the time.

   The 1996 deal was a rip-roaring success - Shearer broke the club's all-time scoring record.

3. United spent big in the summer of 2014 - spending nearly £40million in one close season to repair a team that had nearly gone down.

   Newcastle made the move for the PSV Eindhoven man who justified his price tag. Moved to Liverpool after relegation for £23million, ensuring United turned a quick profit.

4. The most expensive striker of the Mike Ashley era, United ummed and ahhed about the deal before offering Anderlecht the money.

   Mitrovic was a rough diamond but showed serious signs of promise in his first season. Rafa Benitez is not a fan and he's gone backwards since, to the point where a mutual parting of the ways seems inevitable.

5. United's most expensive mistake in the transfer market? Might be up there. Newcastle chief scout Graham Carr was a huge fan of Thauvin's and finally got his man, two years after the club had initially made a move for him.

   But Thauvin moved reluctantly and played as if he had. Didn't settle and was moved on quickly - but is now playing superbly for Marseille and attracting fresh interest.

6. Proof of inflation in football? Signing an up-and-coming English winger from Norwich cost United £12million was Newcastle's joint sixth most expensive transfer ever.

   Murphy has promise and has looked at home in the Premier League in recent weeks, but as the most modern deal it illustrates the point that transfer fees are increasing.

7. Newcastle decided to spend in the January transfer window of 2015 to get themselves out of trouble, with Mike Ashley sanctioning more big moves.

   Shelvey arrived from Swansea alongside Henri Saivet, Seydou Doumbia and Andros Townsend.

8. Townsend was the most successful of the January window signings recruited to try and salvage Newcastle's season.

   He arrived from Spurs and impressed enough to earn a recall to the England squad. But Newcastle went down and Rafa Benitez's attempts to encourage him to stay proved in vain.

9. Rafa Benitez's rebuilding job in the Championship saw significant money spent (although most was recouped by sales). Ritchie's arrival from Bournemouth was at around £4million more than Newcastle had been hoping to get him for - but Benitez insisted and he was one of United's best performers in the Championship campaign.

10. Kevin Keegan's summer of discontent was punctuated by the signing of Coloccini from Deportivo La Coruna. He remains the most expensive defender purchased by the club and even though it became difficult towards the end, he turned in his fair share of towering performances.

11. Nigeria striker signed from Inter Milan and took time to adapt to the Premier League. Showed brief bursts of his class and clearly knew how to finish - but this was a disappointing move.

12. A good deal for Newcastle, who brokered the transfer early in the window as Rafa Benitez worked to rebuild the side that was relegated in anticipation of a tilt at the Championship title.

    Gayle scored 23 goals for Newcastle as they won the division as champions.