On the August 24th 2005, Newcastle United announced that they had agreed a record-breaking fee of £16.8 million to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid. Uncontrollable optimism seeped through St James' Park as the former Real Madrid striker - clad in the black-and-white Northern Rock-sponsored kit - was presented to 15,000 ecstatic Geordies. The signing represented ambition, hope and a genuine first-class striker who fans could idolise in the way they had with Alan Shearer. But the pedestal on which Owen stood as fans in the Sir John Hall stand gawped at their new No 10 has not been seen again in the ensuing 10 years. Deconstructed and slid into the St James' Park storage cellar, ancient vibrations still circulating in the metal tubes are all that remain of that raucous applause and joyous celebration. Despite a couple of decent signings this summer, Aleksandar Mitrovic for £13 million and Georginio Wijnaldum for £14.5 million, the days of being able to lure world-class players to Tyneside seem long gone. Over the weekend, The Express claimed that the Magpies were prepared to hijack Tottenham Hotspur's bid for Saido Berahino and break their transfer record to bring the England Under-21 International to St James' Park. West Brom want £20 million for their star striker and the paper says that Newcastle are willing to oblige. The forward, who scored 14 Premier League goals last season, is quick, strong and one of the hottest prospects in English football. The signing would demonstrate serious ambition from Mike Ashley but is Berahino the right man to make a record-breaking bid for? Here, WhatCulture.com/NUFC takes an alternative look at players who would be worth breaking Newcastle's transfer record for...