On paper, Newcastle United have enjoyed a quietly solid transfer window.
Anthony Elanga looks to be a fantastic long term solution to our right wing issues, Jacob Ramsey bolsters our already-strong midfield, and Malick Thiaw is an exciting addition to the defence, with Aaron Ramsdale also ready to push Nick Pope in goal.
But time is rapidly running out for the club to address the elephant in the room: where is our clinical striker option outside of the want-away Alexander Isak?
We’ve talked for weeks now about getting a replacement for Callum Wilson, and the latest developments looked to have ruled out one name entirely, at least for this summer…
Wolves’ strong Strand Larsen stance
According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Wolves are determined to keep striker Jørgen Strand Larsen after Newcastle had a £50m bid rejected by the Midlands side.
It’s claimed Wolves will resist any of our efforts to poach the 25-year-old over the next week, regardless of what price we put on the table, as they believe it’s ’too late’ to sign an adequate replacement.
Writing on X, Percy adds “Their (Wolves) view is that it’s too late in the window to bring in a proper replacement. Not a stretch to say the entire season could rest on Wolves sticking to this.”
It’s an annoyingly similar situation to ourselves concerning Liverpool’s interest in Alexander Isak: with less than a week left in the transfer window, anyone who sells their primary striker now is very unlikely to get a solid replacement signed in time, which would jeopardise their entire season.
And with Wolves already looking like a prime candidate to be in a relegation battle this season, they’re more than justified in their approach.
Yoane Wissa or bust for Newcastle?
With Sunday’s news that Alexander Isak is now expected to stay on Tyneside this summer, we’ll be hoping that’s one striker option covered.
But given that it’s very unlikely we don’t see the Swede take to the field until after the international break, and who knows how long until we see him back to his brilliant best, we’re still crying out for a goalscorer in the side.
Though internal feelings at the club suggest a deal is unlikely, according to The Telegraph, Yoane Wissa still feels like the best option for the time being.
But all this depends on Brentford softening their stance on his £50-60m asking price: absurd for a soon to be 29-year-old with just a year left on his contract. But still worth a gamble on Newcastle’s end with some huge games coming up, including the Champions League, if a compromise can be found?
Pay the price & sign Wissa…… he has much to offer and unlike Isak …. Wissa actually wants to play for us……….
william tinnion(Quote)
You’re assuming there’s a fixed price. Brentford last week denied stating any price for Wissa to anyone. Its a Guehi situation. We quote anything, they say no & ask us to go higher. Trying to milk us the way they did ManU over Mbuemo (who also only wanted to go there). Since he’s got 11 months (+ 1 year option) left on contract his value drops dramatically post this window so they’ll sell him on Deadline Day. We SHOULDN’T keep bidding through the week, put 1 bid with more add-ons & leave it with them. Only hope Wissa sticks to wanting to come to Newcastle even if Liverpool bid as an Isak alternate. Am sure the ‘so called media’ will spin stories on this even if they don’t, just to unsettle him. He needs to realise he’ll spend most of his time there on the bench.
P(Quote)
Sign Jackson and Hojlund. Both are available, Jackson has shown he can score in the prem, and there is definitely a player in Hojlund with the right support and coaching.
David(Quote)