Newcastle United's new owners make their biggest transfer move yet

Yes, the signings of Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Targett have strengthened Eddie Howe’s squad. But one area in particular needed attention.

The thing that the club needed to do was to sign a striker. And the hamstring injury suffered by No.9 Callum Wilson only heightened the anxiety amongst the club’s fanbase with just over a week of the transfer window left.

The past few days had been dominated by speculation over a deal for Watford’s Joao Pedro, a 20-year-old striker, following a bid from Newcastle, who moved on Dwight Gayle last month.

However, newly-appointed sporting director Dan Ashworth, we know, has had a few plates spinning in recent weeks. And, as head coach Eddie Howe played down talk of an agreement with Watford, Ashworth and the club’s hierarchy were moving on another target, Real Sociedad’s Alexandar Isak.

The feeling was earlier in the summer that the 22-year-old would be too expensive for the club, which has to operate within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules as it attempts to increase its commercial revenues.

It was reported in Spain this afternoon that Newcastle had agreed a club-record £60million deal, described locally as an offer the club couldn’t refuse, for Isak. The deal will be structured in a way to allow the club to comply with the rules on spending.

United, also looking at wingers and midfielders, hope to conclude the deal over the coming days, and Howe will be asked for an update after tonight’s Carabao Cup tie against Tranmere Rovers.

And Tyneside will be watching with interest.