Newcastle United suddenly set for transfer U-turn after Hugo Ekitike disaster

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Newcastle United thought Hugo Ekitike was going to be the solution to their striker problem.

The Magpies are short of options in attack on the back of Callum Wilson leaving the club. As it stands, Alexander Isak and Will Osula are the only senior strikers available to Eddie Howe.

That is why they went all in on Hugo Ekitike, who almost became Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever. However, an offer of £70million was rejected.

Ekitike is going to Liverpool instead, while Newcastle United ponder who to turn to in their quest for attacking reinforcements.

Newcastle United are not going to rush into signing a striker

Yoane Wissa is on Newcastle’s radar, while Benjamin Sesko is a player who the Magpies have been looking at.

However, there will not be a rush to sign an alternative to Ekitike.

That is according to the Athletic, who report that while Newcastle are looking for other strikers they could pursue, they are not going to rush into a deal for just anyone.

As is always the case with PIF, Newcastle are going to wait until the right player is identified, as opposed to signing someone for the sake of it.

It represents a slight U-turn, as Newcastle’s priority was to sign a striker after completing a deal for Anthony Elanga.

Now it is unclear what Newcastle’s priority is, as they continue to endure a rather miserable summer transfer window.

Yoane Wissa is the striker Newcastle United must pursue

Newcastle are weighing up which striker is right for them, after missing out on the likes of Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Next on their agenda should be Wissa, who is perfectly suited to what they are after. He is the ideal understudy to Alexander Isak, capable of acting as a backup, playing in a front two or operating out wide.

He is Premier League proven, with Wissa netting 19 league goals last season for Brentford.

There could be a deal there to be done too, amid claims that Wissa wants to leave Brentford.

Newcastle’s main concern will be his age, with Wissa turning 29-years-old in September. There would also be the concern of availability, with the striker set to compete at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations this winter.

But the positives outweigh the negatives, and Wissa is a player who would be welcomed on Tyneside by the Toon Army if the Magpies can strike a deal.