Shola Ameobi
Ameobi leaves Newcastle after 14 years at St James' Park.

Despite earning a top half finish, Newcastle's season will be remembered for a run of seven defeats in their final eight matches which came amid the condemnable behaviour of manager Alan Pardew and a failure to sign a replacement for Yohan Cabaye. In short, turmoil is surrounding St James' Park.

Master of transfers Joe Kinnear has been replaced by Lee Charnley, who says the club will look to sign at least two players in the upcoming window but the honest truth remains the club require a significant overhaul this summer to prevent their late season form continuing into the new campaign.

Business so far

Of the seven players who have been released by Newcastle, none comes bigger than Shola Ameobi who leaves the club after 14 years in the north east. The other high-profile departure, Dan Gosling, has moved to Doncaster Rovers. Full back Davide Santon has been offered a new deal with two years remaining on his contract. Loic Remy's loan deal has meanwhile seen him return to Queens Park Rangers.

What they need

With Ameobi having departed, Remy almost certain not to make his loan move permanent and Papiss Cisse out for a significant period after knee surgery, the addition of a striker is paramount to ensure Newcastle can be competitive next season. The varying fitness of defenders Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson makes the signing of a reliable centre-back also a priority.

Who could join

Released former Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell and unwanted Sunderland utility player Jack Colback have both been heavily linked with becoming Newcastle's first cut-price additions this summer. In attack, Lyon's Bafetimbi Gomis remains a potential target while Remy Cabella continues to flirt with the idea of moving to the Premier League. Ryan Shawcross, Jack Rodwell and Mark Noble are among the other rumoured targets.

Who could leave

Supporters have finally lost patience with Hatem ben Arfa, with Liverpool rumoured to be among the contenders for his signature. The Frenchman was fined having conducted an unsolicited interview during the backend of the season and his luxury playing style has seen him become an increasingly marginalised figure with just one Premier League start coming in 2014.

What the manager has said

"I think greater depth is an area I've touched on with the creative influence of Yohan Cabaye, where we perhaps didn't have a creative influence in the midfield area of his type," said Pardew.

"Sometimes you invest in that top player and you haven't enough for the squad. So maybe we need to spread it a little bit without taking away the quality of that first XI because we still need to improve that first XI."

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