Newcastle make late approach to sign £61m Wissa alternative

For the second yr working, frustrations effervescent from the summer season switch window have threatened to slam the brakes on Eddie Howe’s challenge. However Newcastle United are product of sterner stuff.

Blunted by the absence of Alexander Isak at Villa Park final weekend, Newcastle saved a clear sheet and performed nicely, albeit shaking palms with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa after failing to maneuver ahead from parity. However there was a lot to love, the guests displaying indicators of eliteness maintained.

More durable assessments lie forward – not least the conflict with Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night time – however there’s each cause that the Tynesiders will discover success as soon as once more of their travels this season.

As Arne Slot’s facet proceed to pursue the wantaway Isak, so too does PIF’s resolve stay taut. We have solely every week till the switch window slams mercifully shut, however whether or not the Sweden worldwide stays on Tyneside is anybody’s guess.

The most recent on Isak’s Newcastle future

Isak’s incendiary feedback final week put to relaxation any confusion or hopes concerning his stance: he’s determined to go away Newcastle and signal for Liverpool.

However ‘I would like’ doesn’t at all times get. The 25-year-old is contracted for 3 extra years, and whereas he believes it had been intimated that he may depart for a brand new problem this yr, exterior forces have made that tough, and he has little energy from which to leverage his place.

Whereas Isak is not going to play a component in opposition to Liverpool, a fixture seemingly dated by destiny, all issues thought-about, Howe is agency in his perception that Isak can nonetheless be reintegrated, if and when.

And PIF? Their stance has not modified: Isak is not on the market. Many figures have been bandied about, nevertheless it actually looks as if a suggestion within the area of £150m is required if Newcastle are to half with their prized piece.

However the switch market is a vicious beast, and each eventuality stays on the playing cards. With this in thoughts, Newcastle proceed to push for brand spanking new recruits at quantity 9.

Newcastle’s seek for a striker

The protracted bid for Yoane Wissa nonetheless hasn’t come to a head. There are parallels to Isak’s state of affairs, for certain, with the DR Congo ahead determined to go away Brentford and be a part of Newcastle inside the week.

Nonetheless, Isak’s future at Newcastle and the prospect of Wissa becoming a member of will not be mutually unique; Callum Wilson left the Toon on the finish of his contract final season, and so two strikers have to be signed for Isak to go away.

And within the dreaded occasion of that occuring, Italian outlet Tuttosport have claimed – through Sport Witness – that Newcastle have made a late strategy for Paris Saint-Germain star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been slated to hitch Juventus after his latest mortgage spell.

Variations between French and Italian phrases have proved a sticking level, with PSG on the lookout for €70m (£61m), and if a breakthrough can’t be discovered, Newcastle may swoop in, having already made an official strategy, together with an unnamed Saudi membership.

What Randal Kolo Muani would carry to Newcastle

Newcastle want a striker. Kolo Muani can be a incredible purchase in changing Isak, particularly if welcomed together with Wissa, who is much much less dynamic and athletic, but a dependable marksman in entrance of aim.

In September 2023, Kolo Muani left his wealthy profession at Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for PSG in a £76m deal, however his time again in his homeland has been disappointing, posting solely 11 objectives and 7 assists over 54 matches.

Nonetheless, a short-term transfer to Juventus in January has constructed the 26-year-old again up, eight objectives scored in Serie A, 13 aim involvements racked up in all competitions, simply 22 matches performed.

The Les Bleus star’s massive transfer to PSG hasn’t labored out, however that is okay. He is nonetheless one of the vital harmful strikers round, confirmed throughout different divisions, hailed as a “celebrity” by German legend Lothar Matthaus throughout his Frankfurt days.

With Wissa adopting a extra simple function in Howe’s system, Kolo Muani may step into Isak’s boots, taking the veritable type of the £120k-per-week sensation and preserving his presence, that type of play which has served United so nicely.

Nick Pope as soon as described Isak as being “like a wizard” after organising that aim in opposition to Everton, however Kolo Muani has a equally inventive slant to his sport.

Throughout his 13 matches within the Serie A final yr, the Frenchman averaged 1.1 key passes per sport, as per Sofascore, and recurrently sparked probabilities when taking over his man, beating him.

Really, taking a look at Kolo Muani’s metrics throughout the previous yr compared to Isak’s, Newcastle’s curiosity turns into clearer. He is the actual deal, all proper, and has the mobility and roundedness to switch the Swede, ought to he depart.

These are centre-forwards with ability past that of merely scoring objectives, full strikers each. Whereas Isak is clearly the extra assured and productive man, it is price noting that Kolo Muani spent the primary half of the 2024/25 marketing campaign languishing in Paris, scoring twice and aiding as soon as throughout ten Ligue 1 video games.

Would Kolo Muani replicate Isak’s output? Maybe not. Isak scored 27 objectives and assisted six extra throughout all competitions final season, together with his medical edge a big half behind his billing as England’s record-breaking man, ought to Liverpool signal him.

However Kolo Muani can be a greater than satisfactory substitute, retaining among the Scandinavian star’s similar type. With Wissa becoming a member of too, it could possibly be a incredible deal for Howe’s facet.