Newcastle United recently made headlines with significant transfer activity, including the signing of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55 million and Antonio Cordero from Malaga on a free transfer. The club is now in the midst of managing the departure of a number of significant players. Lloyd Kelly has gone to Juventus for £20 million, and Sean Longstaff has gone to Leeds for more than £12 million. With the summer transfer window now in full swing, Newcastle’s interest in adding new talent to their team increases, especially in the striker position.
Adding to the speculation, Newcastle have reportedly made a move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. The club had seen a £25 million bid turned down for the 28-year-old attacker earlier in the window. Wissa has now returned to the UK from Brentford’s pre-season training camp to discuss his future with the club’s management amid renewed interest from Newcastle.
Departures from Newcastle
Newcastle’s transfer activity has gone beyond just bringing in new signings. The departures have changed the dynamic of the club’s squad. Juve splashing £20m on the 24-year-old has already proven a huge dent for the side. In the interim, Jamal Lewis and Callum Wilson were released. Sean Longstaff’s departure to Leeds adds to the pressure on Newcastle as they seek to fill gaps left by experienced players.
It’s a difficult transition for Newcastle, as they prepare for their Premier League opener. Now, in fewer than four weeks’ time, they’ll be fighting one another as opponents on the pitch against Nottingham Forest. Ron Walker from Sky Sports remarked on the difficulties facing the club, stating, “They had already seen their head coach and captain depart earlier in the transfer window, but now this has become the most difficult summer the club has had to navigate for many years.”
As Newcastle looks for a new striker, the urgency escalates with every potential option taken off the board. Given that the recent interest in Wissa shows just how much the club needs to add to their attacking options following some recent exits, this makes sense.
Wissa’s Situation at Brentford
Despite a glorious first half of the 22/23 season, Yoane Wissa still wants to move to Newcastle. He is clearly energized by the chance to play in the Champions League. With just one year plus a one-year option with Brentford, his future is very open-ended.
Brentford are not keen to sell Wissa. After all, they just sold star winger Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United for up to £71 million, and they’re trying to hold on to their core. The club, after having lost key assets in the past, is very protective of their attacking core. Ron Walker highlighted this concern: “Having already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, Brentford are desperate not to lose all 39 league goals their sensational attacking duo contributed to the Bees last season.”
Brentford’s management will likely face challenges in convincing Wissa that remaining with the club is in his best interest, particularly given Newcastle’s allure.
Future Implications for Newcastle
While Newcastle seeks to enhance its squad, they missed out on signing Hugo Ekitike, who appears close to joining Liverpool for around £79 million. This miss further highlights the intense competitiveness of the ongoing transfer window and turns up the heat on Newcastle’s management department.
As Newcastle prepares for an expanded Premier League coverage on Sky Sports next season, increasing from 128 to at least 215 exclusive matches, maintaining a competitive squad becomes paramount. For the club’s continuity and success on the pitch, their transfer strategy needs to be effective. This is necessary to be competitive with our clubs at home and in Europe.
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