Newcastle United striker transfer imminent & another has already agreed personal terms as Liverpool watch on
Newcastle United are closing in on one major striker signing - but could they still make another before Monday’s deadline?
Time looked to be against Newcastle heading into the final days of the summer transfer window until they quickly swooped for Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade for a club record fee.
The 23-year-old German is on Tyneside to complete his medical and finalise a £65million move from the Bundesliga club.
It’s a timely arrival for Eddie Howe and his side, who are currently without an established striker in the squad. The Magpies lost Callum Wilson following the end of his contract in June and Alexander Isak has since removed himself from first-team duties in an attempt to force through a move to Liverpool.
Anthony Gordon’s red card suspension has only strengthened Newcastle’s need for a striker and Woltemade looks set to be that man. But for now, the German international will only be viewed as a replacement for the outgoing Wilson, they would still need to sign another striker, which, in turn, would allow Isak to leave should an acceptable offer come in.
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Newcastle United striker hunt takes fresh twist but target still yet to feature this season
Much like Isak, Brentford forward Yoane Wissa is also yet to feature this season amid the transfer speculation.
The Magpies have made Wissa a top target this summer but have so far failed in two bids to sign the DR Congo international. Wissa has verbally agreed to join Newcastle with personal terms not an issue.
But Brentford reportedly value the 28-year-old in excess of £50million and Newcastle would not do business at that price given the player turns 29 next week and has just a year left on his contract, with an option.
Newcastle’s latest bid, worth an initial £35million, was promptly rejected by Brentford with the club’s evidently some way apart in their valuations.
But with Newcastle now signing a striker, what does it mean for Wissa, who has been holding out for a St James’ Park move for the past month?
Wissa’s situation hasn’t changed, he remains unavailable for Brentford heading into Saturday’s trip to Sunderland (3pm kick-off). But Bees boss Keith Andrews stressed once again that he expects the player to remain at the club beyond Monday’s transfer deadline.
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Keith Andrews provides Yoane Wissa latest
Speaking ahead of the trip to Wearside, Andrews said: “Copy and paste really from the other day, the exact same answer. Nothing has changed in terms of my stance and I don’t see any movement.
“It’s very much the same as it was really.”
When asked if Wissa would make the trip to Sunderland, Andrews responded: “No. Again similar to the other day really. Focused on the group that is settled, I suppose, and not got issues ongoing which clearly Yoane has so the squad will be pretty much the same as it was the other night.”
While Isak is training apart from Newcastle’s first-team and is not in regular contact with Howe, Wissa’s situation is different.
“It’s constant, it’s pretty much daily,” Andrews said about his contact with Wissa. “I keep saying about the level of respect I have for Yoane and the relationship I’ve had with him.
“Obviously that’s been difficult for obvious reasons, I don’t think that’s revolutionary in terms of saying that.