Three forwards that Newcastle United could sign on transfer deadline day as Alexander Isak prepares to leave for Liverpool.
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The biggest transfer saga of the summer window seems to be reaching a conclusion on deadline day – after weeks of rancour, Liverpool have reportedly lodged their long-awaited second bid for Alexander Isak, and the Swede finally seems set to get his wish to leave St. James’ Park.
Fabrizo Romano is among the journalists who claim that an offer of £130m had been accepted by Newcastle United, with Isak heading to Liverpool to complete a medical ahead of a British record transfer.
For Newcastle, the transfer generates both a sudden injection of cash and an urgent need to spend it. With Callum Wilson also departing for West Ham United, Eddie Howe’s side will only have one recognised striker – new signing Nick Woltemade – on the books. The arrival of another on deadline day seems like a certainty. But who will they sign? These are Newcastle’s options before the window closes at 7pm on Monday.
Yoane Wissa - Brentford
Newcastle’s efforts to sign the Brentford forward have been almost as tortuous as Liverpool’s attempts to buy Isak – Wissa has made it equally clear to his current employers that he wants to move, going as far as to make a rather brusque public statement outlining his determination to force the transfer through.
The issues are twofold: First, Brentford won’t sell Wissa unless they can find a replacement, and initial offers for Borussia Dortmund strikes Max Beier have failed to take off. Second, the simple matter of money. Newcastle have had offers in the region of £40m turned down flat, with the Bees demanding £60m despite the fact that Wissa only has one year remaining on his contract at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Wissa still appears to be Newcastle’s top target and with the Isak funds fresh in their bank account, they may decide to meet Brentford’s valuation in order to force a deal through, but dominoes need to fall for this one to take place. This is the most likely of the deals that Newcastle might make on Monday, but not one that’s by any means guaranteed.
Jørgen Strand Larsen - Wolves
Another player that Newcastle have already tried and failed to sign – three bids worth between £50m and £60m have been made and turned down by Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the deal may not be dead just yet.
Strand Larsen was left out of Wolves’ matchday squad for the 3-2 defeat to Everton this weekend, and while there were some attempts to play his absence off as injury-related, few believe that it wasn’t linked to negotiations with Newcastle.
Wolves have been adamant that they have no plans to sell the Norwegian (who only signed from Celta Vigo permanently in July) but the striker himself has equally made it plain that he would like to make the move. It appears that Strand Larsen remains, like Wissa, a priority signing for deadline day and Newcastle may well make attempts to buy both. With Wolves holding firm, however, it remains to be seen what manner of transfer fee would be sufficient to twist their arm.
Randal Kolo Muani - PSG
Should efforts to sign either Wissa or Strand Larsen prove to be fruitless, don’t be surprised if Newcastle find a deal out of left field, much as they did when they suddenly sign Woltemade just a couple of days ago – a deal that nobody knew was coming until the eleventh hour.
Newcastle have debated a move for Porto’s Samu Aghehowa but he appears to have been deemed to be overpriced, while Nicolas Jackson was already some way down the shortlist even before Chelsea decided to scupper the Senegalese striker’s loan move to Bayern Munich so that he could provide injury cover for Liam Delap.
A last-minute offer for either isn’t out of the question, but an intriguing alternative is PSG and France forward Randal Kolo Muani. For much of the summer, Juventus have been in negotiations to sign the 26-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan in Turin – but the result so far has been no deal and a transfer saga which has made Isak’s look short and sweet by comparison.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday morning that if Juventus can’t make a belated breakthrough then Kolo Muani will become an option for other clubs – and suggested that Tottenham Hotspur have already made an enquiry for the striker, who is valued at at least £60m by PSG. Don’t be shocked if Newcastle ask the question as well should it prove impossible to get deals for Wissa or Strand Larsen over the line.