If you ask any Newcastle fan of a certain age what the most exciting transfer window followed by a disappointing season was, they'll point you to 2005. Not only did Michael Owen arrive for £16,000,000 in a new club record deal (more on that later), Spanish international Albert Luque arrived with quite the reputation. Deportivo La Coruna's talisman and poster boy was puprotedly something of a wizard on the pitch, part playmaker, part goal-scorer. A £9,000,000 move to the North East had Toon fans seriously excited. In what is one of the most disappointing transfers in recent history, Albert Luque consistently struggled for form at Newcastle, only ever showing glimpses of his true ability. With one goal albeit in the Tyne-Wear derby to his name, Luque was shipped out to Ajax after two unhappy years.
