The transfer window has finally come to a close and Newcastle United will be glad to see the back of it after missing out on 11 top targets.
It was an absolute slog of a transfer window for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe will be glad he can finally focus on the action on the pitch after several sagas came to a close on deadline day.
The Alexander Isak fiasco drained the optimism from the club and the striker finally got his way by sealing a £125m move to Liverpool.
Newcastle did manage to sign their own strikers, but it was far from easy after several top targets went elsewhere.
Record signing Nick Woltemade was recruited from Stuttgart, before Brentford’s Yoane Wissa eventually arrived with 30 seconds to spare before the window closed for £55m.
Newcastle’s outlay of £260.4m is by far the most PIF have ever spent in a single window since buying the club, though a net spend of less than £100m makes for better reading.
Still, it was a window in which Newcastle learned how hard it is to compete with the Premier League’s legacy clubs, even if Simon Jordan doesn’t believe their reputation has taken a hit.
Here is every big target Newcastle failed to sign in the window.
- Every player linked with Newcastle in summer transfer window: Latest news and prices on Eddie Howe’s targets
The seven top targets Newcastle United have been beaten to in transfer window
Dean Huijsen
It’s a lot of time and disappointment ago now, but the first player Newcastle missed out on this summer was Dean Huijsen.
The Toon had been monitoring the Bournemouth centre-back’s progress throughout the season and were keen on signing him instead of Marc Guehi (who they also failed to sign).
But when Real Madrid comes knocking, there’s nothing much anyone else can do. Los Blancos triggered his release clause to sign him for £50m.
Liam Delap
Liam Delap was an obvious link for Newcastle and it was a signing that would have made a lot of sense.
The young striker had shown he can play at the highest level as he impressed in a terrible Ipswich Town team, and he had a release clause of just £30m. A bargain in today’s market. Shearer wanted Delap.
However, the fact that Newcastle had Isak and Delap would be second choice at St. James’ Park helped convince him to join Chelsea instead.
As it transpires, both parties may regret the decision as Newcastle lost Isak anyway and Delap is unlikely to be Chelsea’s first choice as they’ve made even more striker signings.
Matheus Cunha
Matheus Cunha was being linked to Newcastle for months before the window opened and it looked as though he would be the top priority once it did.
But all that speculation turned out to be for nought, as it quickly transpired the Brazilian would be signing for Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim’s side spent £62.5m to add him to their ranks and Newcastle never stood a chance.
Bryan Mbeumo
At one stage, it looked as if Bryan Mbeumo would be a sure bet for Newcastle.
The versatile forward had just enjoyed his best season ever, scoring 20 Premier League goals, but didn’t appear to be attracting interest from any other Champions League side.
As it transpired, playing in Europe’s top competition wasn’t essential for Mbeumo, who followed Cunha to Old Trafford for a massive £71m.
Joao Pedro
Though clearly talented, there didn’t appear to be much competition for Joao Pedro after a solid if unspectacular season of just 10 league goals at Brighton.
The Brazilian looked like the perfect addition for Newcastle, though. A multi-faceted forward who could play in support of Isak or lead the line if the Swede was unavailable, and a great alternative to Mbeumo after it became clear he was going to Man Utd.
But, nope, not content with already signing Delap, free-spending Chelsea swooped in to buy Pedro for £60m. Yet another forward to their ever-expanding squad.
Hugo Ekitike
The Hugo Ekitike fiasco completely summed up Newcastle’s farce of a window, up to that point.
After already missing out on several attacking targets, the Magpies turned their attention to the Eintracht Frankfurt star.
But soon afterwards, they were gazumped by Liverpool, who targeted Ekitike in response to being told Isak wasn’t for sale.
Ekitike was signed for £79m and, in a cruel twist of fate, the Reds still signed Isak anyway.
Newcastle were reportedly furious that their Ekitike interest leaked but it just epitomised the state of the ship during the summer.
James Trafford
Perhaps most shocking of all the missed targets was James Trafford.
Newcastle may have missed out to a bigger club with more pull once again, but this time they have no one to blame but themselves.
Trafford had been identified as the top goalkeeper target well before the window even opened, with Howe supposedly wanting a shot-stopper better with the ball at his feet than Nick Pope.
But instead of getting the deal done, Newcastle dithered on the price and when they finally reached an agreement with Burnley, City took their right to match the offer and Trafford opted for a return to the Etihad.
If Newcastle had got the deal done earlier in the window when the Blues weren’t after a goalkeeper, he’d have been signed no problem.
However, like Delap, Trafford may regret his decision after City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day.
Benjamin Sesko
Newcastle were finally put out of their Benjamin Sesko misery when his move to Manchester United was confirmed on August 9.
Newcastle offered more money than Man Utd to RB Leipzig and promised higher wages, yet Sesko still chose to move to Old Trafford.
Explaining his choice, Sesko said the exciting project under Ruben Amorim and the history of the club helped him decide.
Marc Guehi
Newcastle have been chasing Crystal Palace captain Guehi for what feels like four transfer windows now.
Once again, the Magpies were unable to sign the talented centre-back, instead recruiting Malick Thiaw from AC Milan to reinforce the defence.
Guehi was set to join Liverpool on deadline day but the deal collapsed late on after manager Oliver Glasner threatened to leave the club if he was sold without a replacement signed.
Newcastle could try again for Guehi over the next 12 months as he’s into the final year of his contract, but will find it tough against Liverpool and maybe Chelsea.
Giorgio Scalvini
Another defender Newcastle were linked with in the window was young Italian Giorgio Scalvini.
Speculation surrounding Scalvini, who plays for Atalanta, was high throughout June and July but died down significantly towards the end of the window.
Atalanta’s steep £50m Scalvini valuation seemingly put the Magpies off and saw them sign Thiaw for £34.4m instead.
However, Scalvini is one of the few targets who didn’t go elsewhere, so Newcastle could reignite their interest in 2026.
Jorgen Strand Larsen
The last striker Newcastle ended up failing to sign was Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The burly Norwegian impressed on loan in the Black Country last season with 14 goals, before Wolves signed him permanently earlier in the summer for £23m.
Understandably, they didn’t want to sell Strand Larsen so soon after signing him, and informed the 25-year-old he would be going nowhere.
Strand Larsen was keen on the move but accepted his club’s decision with grace and didn’t go on strike, unlike Alexander Isak.
Instead, Newcastle signed Yoane Wissa on deadline day for £55m and are unlikely to go back in for Strand Larsen.
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