Conspiracy theories, four-hour long talks and a £75million price tag - the Marc Guehi transfer saga was an exhausting one.
In the eyes of many, Crystal Palaceemerged victorious from the arduous affair as they successfully resisted Newcastle's advances for a player handed the Eagles captaincy over the summer.
In the fullness of time, however, Palace's refusal to sanction Guehi's exit may yet bite them in the backside. Financially, at least.
Having kept the 23-year-old, Palace are now expected to begin the dance of persuading Guehi into signing a new contract.
Any offer would include a big pay rise for a player who emerged as one of England's stars of Euro 2024.
It would also very likely include a release clause of between £60m-£70m.
But all the early indications are that Guehi would have reservations about signing an extension. Palace have certainly been offered no assurances that he is currently willing to do so.
Guehi is in a strong position. With under two years left on his deal, the prospect of securing a money-spinning Bosman transfer is on the horizon. Why would he give that up?
At a cut price fee, many of the Premier League's top clubs will view Guehi as a golden opportunity.
Manchester City, for example, have already checked on how Guehi's future may develop.
And ultimately, the centre-back's desire to play Champions League football will emerge as a pivotal factor in how Guehi evaluates his future. So, too, will playing for a team in which he is a regular.
If the option of joining a club that presents him with the chance of fulfilling those ambitions arises, then he may find it too difficult to turn down, no matter how attractive and lucrative a free transfer may seem.
The price at which Palace would be willing to sell Guehi will also be key. A deal of around £50million would be optimum for Palace next summer.
But with the possibility of signing Guehi for nothing now a valid negotiating tactic, who's to say clubs would be willing to pay that much?
Indeed, the sporting director of one side interested in Guehi has indicated that only a fee of £30million or below would tempt them.
Keeping Guehi, though, is viewed as the club's main triumph.
By the end, there was an general sense at Palace that Newcastle never really gave them a decision to make, although certain figures at St James' Park believe the south Londoners never intended to sell.
The second and final official bid tabled by Newcastle for the England international was worth £55million plus a further £5m in add-ons.
The Magpies, however, did communicate, on three occasions, their intention to make improved offers - the highest landing at £65million plus £5million.
But it is understood those verbal offers never transitioned into formal bids, primarily because Palace never signalled that any of them would be accepted.
A deal worth £70million was still short, albeit marginally, of Crystal Palace's valuation, which was set at £65m + £10m.
There were indications in the final week of the transfer window that the two clubs had found a middle ground.
But then Palace centre back Chadi Riad damaged his medial collateral ligament in a Carabao Cup tie against Norwich.
The injury, coupled with Palace's decision to sell Guehi's long-term central defensive partner Joachim Andersen to Fulham for £30million, signalled the beginning of the end for Newcastle's pursuit.
Palace didn't budge on their price. Newcastle didn't fold.
Palace's valuation may have seemed excessive. But at the very heart of the club's sky-high valuation was the player's refusal to push for a move.
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If Guehi had made clear he wanted to leave then chances are that he would be a Newcastle player today for a fee less than £75million.
Indeed, Mail Sport has learned that Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell, who was leading the swoop, traveled down to London to meet chairman Parish in the middle of August with a view to closing the transfer for a player Eddie Howe had expressed was his one and only central defensive target.
The meeting lasted around four hours. By all accounts, Parish left the meeting more determined than ever to resist Newcastle's advances.
Having heard that Howe had put all their eggs in Guehi's basket, Parish used the information as a leverage to stick to his high price.
Palace were also aware of an emerging political narrative behind the scenes at Newcastle.
Howe wanted to see if Mitchell could deliver what he wanted. Mitchell, working on his first big transfer since his appointment, wanted to prove he could.
That Newcastle chief executive Darren Eales entered into negotiations during the final days of the window offered further intrigue into a political picture on Tyneside that will continue to simmer.
Of course, none of that concerned Palace or Parish, who, after that face-to-face meeting with Mitchell, gave Newcastle the magic number.
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That number was never matched. Mitchell and Eales have their reasons as to why Newcastle didn't cough up. Howe has his views.
Palace, though, have Guehi.
