It’s been a tough transfer window for Newcastle United but Alan Shearer might be pleased with the striker target the club is now on the hunt for.
What should have been a summer of optimism, excitement and growth has been anything but for Newcastle United, who have suffered setback after setback and failed to capitalise on their budding momentum.
Eddie Howe has had to watch on in despair as the club have missed out on all of his top targets in the transfer window and has only been able to add Anthony Elanga to his squad so far.
The manager wants another forward to bolster his attacking arsenal and after missing out on several targets, Yoane Wissa has now emerged as the latest alternative.
Wissa has left Brentford’s pre-season training camp amid speculation he wants to leave, and Newcastle are preparing a bid in the region of £30m.
Despite missing out on so many targets, Alan Shearer has at least already given his seal of approval on Wissa after showering him with praise in the past.
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Alan Shearer praise for Newcastle United target Yoane Wissa
In his capacity as a Premier League icon and ambassador, as well as a respected pundit, Shearer gives his Premier League Team of the Week after every round of fixtures.
Wissa featured in his team three times last season, and here is what the Newcastle legend had to say.
Brentford 4-3 Ipswich Town, October 2024. Wissa scored twice.
- Shearer said: “Brentford are so dangerous when he’s in the side. As a striker myself, I’m giving him two goals in that match, even if the second one has officially been given as an own goal!”
Brentford 3-2 Bournemouth, November 2024. Wissa scored twice.
- Shearer said: “He’s developing into a top striker, with his two goals crucial in Brentford’s turnaround success.”
Brentford 4-2 Newcastle United, December 2024. Wissa scored once.
- Shearer said: “Newcastle simply couldn’t handle him. Incredibly, he’s scored in all six of his home appearances this season.”
If anyone can pass judgement on a striker’s quality, it’s the Premier League’s record goal scorer. If Shearer believes Wissa is good, then Newcastle will be making a smart signing.
Newcastle United must rectify transfer window failures
Now, Newcastle can’t afford to let another transfer target slip through their fingers, or the psychological blow could be seismic. Let alone the fact that there aren’t many alternatives left.
Fans had sympathy and were patient for over a year when the club were unable to make signings due to PSR restrictions, eagerly anticipating the day the leash came off.
Though £60m has been spent on Elanga, the transfer window has been a colossal failure so far and it will take a miracle for the squad to be strengthened enough to compete in the Champions League by deadline day.
Howe knows how difficult competing in Europe and maintaining form in the Premier League is, but Newcastle are yet to make the squad deep enough to remedy the burden.
There was not much the club could do as they missed out on target after target, with Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha, Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike all deciding to go elsewhere.
Despite their status as a Champions League club, Newcastle just don’t have the pull of the established elites. Yet.
The James Trafford fiasco, however, suggests an, at best, naivety and, at worst, incompetence in the transfer market has been at the heart of every missed target, as Newcastle have been ruthlessly outmanoeuvred time and again.
Newcastle might not want to overpay for a target but, in that case, you either meet a club’s demand for a player, like Burnley’s £40m asking price for Trafford, or you move on.
You don’t string the transfer saga on for months, believing you’ll get a better deal for your number one target, as then you leave the door open for Manchester City to swoop in and leave you with nothing less than a month before the season begins.
Paul Mitchell’s untimely departure hasn’t helped matters, but Newcastle have been exposed and outplayed throughout the window.
If they want to ensure that doesn’t happen on the pitch next season, then they need to start getting it right. Quickly. Starting with Wissa.
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