Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Brentford - London Stadium, London, Britain - February 15, 2025 Brentford's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Newcastle United are not having the summer recruitment drive they envisioned ahead of their Champions League campaign.
The Magpies enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in decades, winning their first major trophy in 70 years by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
They also qualified for European football’s elite competition by finishing fifth in the Premier League.
Following the sales of Lloyd Kelly and Miguel Almirón in January, it was expected that Newcastle would have no trouble attracting top talent and continuing their ambitious project to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, the transfer window has been plagued by near-misses, with top targets João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike opting to join other Premier League clubs.
Now, a fresh bombshell has caused unrest on Tyneside.
It has been heavily reported today that star striker Alexander Isak has informed the club of his desire to explore a potential move elsewhere this summer.
His omission from the travelling squad to Singapore has only added fuel to the fire.
David Ornstein of The Athletic – one of the most reliable sources on Premier League transfers – broke the news that has left Newcastle fans deeply concerned:
“Alexander Isak wants to leave Newcastle United. Absence from Celtic friendly + Asia tour 25yo’s preference. #NUFC keen for Sweden international striker to stay on improved deal but also exploring potential replacements.”
Newcastle have been in the market for a striker for some time, with their latest pursuit focused on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
A £25m bid was rejected last week, but talks are ongoing.
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has provided a new update on the situation:
“Further talks are happening today at Brentford over the future of Yoane Wissa.”
“Newcastle have had a £25m bid turned down but are in discussions over a £35m package.”
“The player wants to leave and is currently training on his own in London. I’m told his move to #NUFC is moving towards a conclusion.”
“Newcastle want him to be an option to Alexander Isak for the coming season.”
Will Newcastle sell Alexander Isak?
Selling Isak would be a nightmare scenario for many Newcastle supporters, especially after only just recovering from the struggles endured during Mike Ashley’s 14-year tenure.
There has been an expectation, based on the ownership’s ambition so far, that the club would not be pressured into selling their top players.
However, if a club meets the reported £150m price tag for the Swedish forward, it could give Newcastle the financial power to reinvest wisely, even if reluctantly parting with a star player.
The signing of Wissa would be a strong first step in damage control should Isak depart, though Newcastle will likely need to bring in a younger centre-forward to plan for the long term.
The club have recently been linked with Benjamin Sesko and Randal Kolo Muani, so there may be further opportunities to explore if the worst-case scenario plays out.
Either way, the coming days and weeks will be tense for the St James’ Park faithful.
However, securing Wissa would at least provide Eddie Howe with a ready-made Premier League goal-scorer to help steady the ship.
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