Newcastle line up late proposal to sign “special” £80m CF, he’d be great next to Wissa – opinion
Newcastle United’s Striker Hunt: Wissa and Jackson on Howe’s Radar as Transfer Deadline Looms
Soon, the transfer window shutters will come crashing down, bringing an end to what has been one of the most dramatic and drawn-out sagas of the summer. The noise surrounding Alexander Isak’s uncertain future at Newcastle United has dominated headlines for weeks, but soon attention will shift back to the pitch and to the Magpies’ pursuit of Champions League football once more.
Newcastle’s season is already underway, having picked up a solid point at Villa Park in their opener. Eddie Howe’s side looked the sharper team for long stretches and, on another day, could easily have walked away with all three points. Yet the absence of a ruthless goalscorer was glaring. With Callum Wilson having departed for West Ham United and Isak still refusing to train with the first team, the need for reinforcements in attack has never been more urgent.
PIF are determined to deliver the firepower Howe needs, targeting at least one—possibly two—proven forwards before the September 1st deadline. Progress has been steady rather than spectacular in recent months, but momentum is finally building. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa remains the primary target, though Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson has now emerged as a genuine option.
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Why Wissa Fits Newcastle’s Blueprint
Earlier this week, Newcastle tabled a second bid for Wissa—£35m plus performance-based add-ons—but Brentford wasted no time in rejecting the offer. The Bees, financially secure and in no rush to sell, have made their stance clear. Still, the player himself has his heart set on Tyneside, a fact that could yet prove decisive in the final days of the window.
That desire to don black and white stripes is precisely what Howe prizes most. His system thrives on unity, hard work, and collective commitment. Signing a player already desperate to buy into the project could provide the Magpies with a striker willing to run through brick walls for the cause.
Sources close to the club have suggested some pessimism about sealing the deal, but Wissa’s persistence continues to keep talks alive. At 27, he is older than some of Newcastle’s alternative targets, but with age comes experience. His composure and refined finishing ability were on full display last season, as he played a key role in Brentford’s attack alongside Bryan Mbeumo.
By contrast, Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen has also been earmarked, though at £60m, he would represent a costly gamble for a player with less Premier League pedigree.
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Newcastle Enter the Race for Nicolas Jackson
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are now weighing up a move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal international, still just 24, is reportedly up for sale at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea keen to recoup around £60m before the window closes. That figure is already a step down from earlier claims that the Blues would only consider offers closer to £80m.
Signed from Villarreal for £30m two summers ago, Jackson arrived in London as one of La Liga’s most promising young strikers. His pace, power, and sharp movement were immediately evident, but the adaptation to English football has been mixed. While critics highlight his inconsistency in front of goal, the numbers tell a more nuanced story: 34 goal contributions across 65 Premier League matches is a respectable tally for a player still finding his feet in one of the toughest leagues in the world.
Jackson’s game is not solely about scoring. He thrives as a mobile, interlinking focal point—linking midfield and attack, pressing defenders, and stretching opposition backlines. Howe has built his Newcastle project around energy and intensity, making Jackson an ideal candidate to flourish under his guidance.
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Wissa vs. Jackson: Contrasting Options
Statistically, the two forwards offer very different skill sets. Wissa is the more natural finisher, clinical inside the box and adept at timing his runs. Jackson, meanwhile, brings greater creativity and dynamism. Over his two Premier League seasons, he averaged more than one key pass per match, underlining his ability to create as well as score.
Pairing them together could give Howe the best of both worlds: Wissa as the reliable finisher, Jackson as the energetic creator. While neither is a direct replacement for Isak—considered by many one of the most complete strikers in Europe—they could collectively soften the blow of his absence and add new dimensions to Newcastle’s frontline.
Wissa’s determination to join Newcastle, combined with Jackson’s untapped potential, presents Howe with an intriguing blend of hunger and raw talent. Both could thrive in an environment where high pressing, relentless work rate, and attacking ambition are non-negotiables.
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What Comes Next for Newcastle?
With the deadline fast approaching, the race is on. Howe is adamant that Newcastle cannot afford to go into the season light in attack, particularly with European football on the horizon and the club’s lofty ambition to compete for silverware.
If Newcastle can pull off deals for both Wissa and Jackson, it could mark a turning point in their season—a double statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League. It would also ease the pressure caused by the Isak saga, shifting the narrative from uncertainty to optimism.
For a club that has not lifted a major trophy in decades, these final days of the transfer window could be decisive. Should PIF land their targets, the 2024/25 campaign may well be remembered as the year Newcastle laid the foundations for something special—a genuine return to the elite.