The latest chapter in Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United journey got off to a frustrating start as the Magpies drew at Aston Villa to kick off the new Premier League season.
But a point at Villa Park is hardly a poor result, and there was much to like about the visitors’ performance, even with Anthony Gordon moonlighting as a centre-forward in the palpable absence of Alexander Isak, who is AWOL as he awaits a potential move to Merseyside before the end of the month.
The away end sang derisory chants aimed toward the skiving Isak at the end of the goalless draw, and there’s a collective sense of understanding across English football as the Magpies watch their talisman be reduced to just another footballer.
But the club is always bigger than the player, and that’s not so much a truism as a timely reminder. Given the Sweden international’s decision to have excommunicated himself from the St. James’ Park first team, it might be worth selling him this summer after all.
Why Newcastle should sell Alexander Isak
Earlier in August, Liverpool saw an offer worth £110m plus add-ons rejected by Newcastle, who were somewhat affronted by what they perceived as a lowball bid.
Perhaps PIF were just in their grievances, having made it known all summer that the 25-year-old, who has just shy of three years remaining on his contract, can only leave if their valuation, stretching as high as £150m, is set.
Liverpool would have known that their offer would have been rejected; it’s all part of the game. And United must now accelerate their focus on signing two new strikers, as confirmed is the plan by correspondent Craig Hope, before time runs out, and Howe is left with a blinding problem beyond the movements of the market.
The manager’s expertly-woven system at Newcastle is built on the key tenets of togetherness, cohesion and tenacity. The Toon outfight and outthink their opponents routinely, and the proof is in the pudding.
Isak is at odds with this overarching principle, and he must be sold. Newcastle need a number nine who wants to fight for the badge.
Newcastle holding talks for new striker
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are accelerating their bid for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, though PIF are reluctant to meet the Bees’ hefty £60m price tag.
The 28-year-old Wissa has made it clear that he wishes to sign for Newcastle this month, having engaged in discussions with the Tynesiders across recent weeks. However, talks have also been held with further suitors like Tottenham Hotspur.
It’s worth noting that with Callum Wilson having left Newcastle at the end of his contract, this move is viewed in a separate light to that of Isak, with Wissa not a direct replacement as such.
Why Newcastle want Yoane Wissa
Wissa has been at Brentford for four years, joining from Lorient in an £8.5m deal. Steady, clinical progress has seen him establish himself as the club’s record scorer in the Premier League.
1
Yoane Wissa
45
2
Bryan Mbeumo
42
3
Ivan Toney
36
4
Kevin Schade
13
5
Christian Norgaard
11
Last season alone, he scored 19 times in the league for Thomas Frank’s side, and, aged 28, feels the time is right to earn a big move to a club competing within the European theatre.
Though Isak has a far wider breadth of quality within his locker, Wissa would take his place as Newcastle’s frontman and provide Howe’s side with a prolific outlet from which they can channel their creativity.
And given that the two forwards share a certain unsavoury similarity in the way in which they are looking to force their way through to a new home, might this prove to be Howe’s version of Isak?
Wissa maintained an impressive level in front of goal last term, and while he’s not an overly creative player, the Congolese international did average 0.8 key passes per Premier League game last season, via Sofascore, and contributed with four assists.
While Howe would need to continue to quest for a younger and more mobile striker to complement Wissa and replace Isak, the Bees star is a proven goalscorer in the English top flight and he could make all the difference in challenging for a place in the top four (or five) once again while competing in the Champions League, aiming to wade deep into Europe’s elite club competition.
Moreover, Wissa’s experience could contrast nicely against the more unproven youth of another striker looking to make their way into Howe’s plans, thus creating a kind of balance at number nine between two players desperate to succeed at the club.
Hailed for his “sensational” goalscoring qualities by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Wissa is not Isak, but then he knows that, and Howe does too, and signing a player more limited in the scope of their attacking arsenal might actually mark a sure-fire route toward continuity of slick, effective attacking play.
Ultimately, Howe and his transfer team will be fully aware that Wissa would not bring the same calibre of technical ability as Isak has done over the past three years.
Certainly, the French-born forward lacks Isak’s zippy athleticism and his potential to become something even greater over the coming years.
But he is a proven Premier League striker, having scored 19 goals last season and having showcased his link-up ability through an intuitive on-pitch relationship with Bryan Mbeumo over the past few years.
It’s crucial that Newcastle ensure they keep chugging onward after a frustrating transfer window, and by signing a striker who can maintain prolific levels of a similar degree to Isak, they might just achieve that.