4. Jonathan Woodgate (£9million)
Mike Egerton/EMPICS SportWidely regarded as one of the best English centre defenders of his generation, Jonathan Woodgate is definitely a case of what might have been for Newcastle as well as for his own wider career. One of the best readers of the game around, his career was hampered by injury, but in a team famed for its poor defence, in the 18 months that he was at Newcastle, he was brilliant when he played. However, having limped out of a game against Chelsea towards the end of the 2003/04 season with an injury that would see him ruled out of that summer's European Championships in Portugal, he would never appear in a Newcastle shirt again as he was sold to Real Madrid in a rather bizarre deal for around £13million. Ideally, Newcastle wouldn't have dreamt of selling, but given his injury - which would eventually rule him out for a whole year - it seemed like a deal too good to refuse. Some may disagree with having Woodgate on the list given the fact that he was only at the club for a short time, having signed from the burning building that was Leeds United in January 2003 for £9million, but his bravery, pace across the first five yards and understanding of the game meant he was one of the best defenders Newcastle have had in recent times, and for that he was worth the hefty fee paid by Sir Bobby Robson.