Newcastle United have a massive summer ahead of them. Having only just confirmed their Premier League status on the final day of last season, they want to avoid a repeat of such a scenario during the 2015-16 campaign. Steve McClaren is expected to be named as Alan Pardew's permanent successor this week and he has been promised a "transfer war chest" believed to be worth in excess of £60 million in order to strengthen his squad. Players will depart St James' Park in the coming weeks, but equally at least seven are believed to be likely to arrive on Tyneside. Centre-backs, wingers and strikers are of the utmost priority, with at least two proven forwards wanted by the Magpies. If Mike Ashley's interview before the West Ham United match is to be believed then the Sports Direct magnate is willing to invest funds in the club this summer in order to make them competitive again next season. Newcastle cannot afford to be outside of the Premier League and it seems as if Ashley and his managing director Lee Charnley have finally realised that and decided to pump funds into the club. So here are all of the players Newcastle United have been linked to in the past week - and there's something exciting and unusual names on the list - and exactly how whatculture.com/nufc reported the stories...