Pierre Emerick Aubameyang's move to Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund ended a long-standing interest in the player, although Newcastle were never likely to be able to match either Dortmund's pulling power or selling club St Etienne's valuation given their established recruitment policy.
They were also been given permission to talk to Wigan's Arouna Kone, but that effort died quicker than it appeared, once Mike Ashley found out the player was 30 year old!
Everton boss Roberto Martinez appears to have got that transfer sorted.
Want-away Aston Villa frontman Darren Bent is on the club's list of potential targets, but the Magpies are only interested in a cut-price deal and their hopes of landing the 29-year-old may ultimately come down to how desperate the Midlanders are to offload the England international.
And trust me ... they are VERY desperate.
Loic Remy's representatives have been busy once again during the opening days of the summer transfer window, with the 26-year-old France international looking for someone to activate the relegation release clause in the QPR player's contract.
Newcastle thought they had captured Remy in January until the Londoners blew them out of the water with a financial package which they were simply not prepared to match, although their investment proved to be in vain.
But having been snubbed once, the Magpies are unlikely to return to the scene of the crime.
The current lack of tangible progress on the transfer front has simply served to increase the frustration of fans baffled by Kinnear's appointment and concerned that he will be unable to get deals over the line.
Indeed, there is a school of thought (prompted by one local newspaper) which suggests the approach for Kone was simply a token gesture aimed at appeasing the malcontents and had little chance of succeeding.
With Ashley continuing his "deaf and dumb" stance; Derek Llambias having walked the walk; and Alan Pardew still hiding under the bed since Kinnear's appointment ... is ANYONE going to talk to us?
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:
Motherwell (A) July 16
Rio Ave (A) July 20
Pacos Ferreira (A) July 23
Blackpool (A) July 29
St Mirren (A) July 31
Braga (H) August 10
WE TELL IT AS IT IS - NO BULLSHIT!
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