Newcastle United's stars returned to training today and club are hovering like vultures, ready to take advantage of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the club by moving in on the players they may want to keep.
Manager-in-waiting Alan Shearer identified a handful of senior professionals around whom he hoped to build a team, including Steven Taylor, Habib Beye and Sebastien Bassong.
However, with the club's ownership still to be resolved and the start of the new Coca-Cola Championship season less than six weeks away, they are yet to receive assurances over their own futures.
Taylor has been linked with Turkish club Fenerbahce and has also been trailed by several English sides in the past, while speculation is mounting that Sunderland and Blackburn are ready to fight it out for Beye's signature.
In addition, Bassong has revealed his representatives have been in talks with two clubs, although those discussions appear to have stalled.
Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Claudio Cacapa will head away from the club when their contracts expire at midnight tonight, while defender David Edgar is closing in on a move to promoted Burnley.