Newcastle United have been bullish in their stance of selling Alexander Isak this summer, with Eddie Howe already confirming he is not for sale.
The Magpies are in a position where they can spend well in the summer transfer window, but things have not worked out how they were supposed to.
Newcastle United have made just one signing so far this summer, with Anthony Elanga joining from Nottingham Forest for £55million. The winger ended a long wait for a quality right-winger on Tyneside, so the focus could be shifted elsewhere.
After Elanga, it was revealed Newcastle are looking to sign a new striker, and it looked like they had found one in Hugo Ekitike. However, Liverpool have stolen a march on Ekitike after the Magpies’ bid of around £70m was rejected by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Newcastle are now looking to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford, with his price tag believed to be in the region of around £40m. While Wissa is a great addition this summer, he does not solve a major problem which could arise next year.
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Newcastle United would need to sign a new young striker if Alexander Isak leaves
Keith Downie thought Ekitike to Newcastle was ‘succession planning‘. Both Ekitike and Isak have similar attributes to their game, so a deal for the 23-year-old made sense. His age also meant he would likely be a long-term star on Tyneside.
However, Ekitike has opted for Liverpool over Newcastle and is set to become part of Arne Slot’s side. It leaves Newcastle with a minor problem which could become major if Isak is sold next summer: they need to sign a new young striker.
Wissa is 28, so while he will be useful for a couple of seasons, he will likely be in a similar position to Callum Wilson further down the line, becoming a second choice.
Signing a young striker this summer cements a long-term replacement for Isak and gives Howe another bright star he can develop to be a top player in the future.
There are several academy players who could come up through the ranks to play in the first team, with Sean Neave likely to be a top candidate, but Howe will surely be keen on signing a more experienced young striker this summer.
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Newcastle United have a first-team player who can step up if Alexander Isak leaves
It is worth noting that Isak is highly unlikely to leave Newcastle this summer, especially after Liverpool moved closer to signing Ekitike.
Very few clubs in the world can afford Isak, that is according to Kieran Maguire who also believes Newcastle will be reluctant to sell to a Premier League club.
In the meantime, Newcastle could look to William Osula as the heir to Isak’s throne next year. The 21-year-old gave a good account of himself in the 2024/25 campaign, impressing in appearances off the bench and in cup starts.
Osula has stated his desire to play more for Newcastle, so Howe could look to use him more often if Isak goes. His age makes him a perfect candidate to replace Isak, but whether he is ready for more consistent football will become evident when he plays next season.
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