Newcastle United have made a decent start to the new season.

After a summer of flux the Magpies have worked hard to ensure that Steve Bruce's side was ready for the big kick-off.

The signings of Jeff Hendrick, Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis were notable additions who represented a significant increase in the level of quality in the first team squad.

That has certainly helped them to get results on the pitch.

Two wins from four games has seen Newcastle into the top half of the table as the Premier League pauses for the first international break of the season.

But this break in action has allowed many to ponder what could have been if the controversial takeover had gone through.

Mike Ashley was all-but ready to finalise a £300million deal that would see him offload the club to a consortium made up of PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

But that didn't happen.

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As a result the Sports Direct mogul invested heavily in the first team squad - a move that was well-received by supporters who were watching his actions very closely.

But while these deals were a big step forward for the football club, Chris Waugh of The Athletic believes that it was merely a pragmatic approach to protect the value of the club ahead of another attempt at selling it on.

Writing for The Athletic, Waugh said: "This Bruce-shaped quiet revolution does not feel like a long-term strategy; instead, more like a pragmatic, ties-us-over approach.

"Nobody knows what the future holds for the club but Ashley is still desperate to sell and is working hard behind the scenes to resurrect the failed takeover.

"All the evidence suggests, therefore, that this was a short-term fix of a window.

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"Ashley knows Newcastle need to remain a Premier League club if he is going to receive his £305 million asking price and he will believe they have done just about enough to ensure that will be the case.

"He will also hope that he is not here in 12 months’ time to have to negotiate another summer window, too."

GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...

The next few months are going to be incredibly interesting for Newcastle United fans.

Supporters were utterly distraught when the proposed £300million takeover collapsed over the summer, with some questioning whether they could handle another season of such uncertainty.

However the transfer business done by the club was enough to attract those fans back.

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Mike Ashley deserves credit for spending money on new signings, but Chris Waugh is probably right with his assessment.

With the Sports Direct man still looking to sell the the club his main focus will be on preserving the £300million valuation previously agreed - or even increasing ti.

Relegation would be disastrous for any takeover deal and so that's a risk that Ashley simply can't afford to take.