Newcastle striker shortlist expands after top target turns them down | OneFootball

Newcastle Scramble for Striker Solutions After Sesko Snub

Recruitment Reset at St James’ Park

Newcastle United’s striker hunt now carries the fatigue of a campaign already in motion, even though the season has yet to begin. What started as an ambitious summer of targeted recruitment has become a list of rejections, frustrations and urgent recalculations. With Benjamin Sesko heading to Manchester United, Newcastle must reframe their strategy while navigating the impending departure of Alexander Isak.

Photo IMAGO

As Craig Hope of the Daily Mail reports, “Newcastle believed Manchester United was the Slovenian’s preferred destination.” Their efforts to convince Sesko were serious, timely and bold, but ultimately futile once United made their move. Now, attention has shifted to a shortlist filled with potential, caveats and uncertainty.

Photo: IMAGO

Interest Builds Around Wissa and Larsen

Yoane Wissa has emerged as Newcastle’s top candidate. “This deal WILL happen,” writes Hope, citing communication between player and club and a growing sense of inevitability. Wissa’s Premier League output last season, 19 goals with no penalties, places him in rare company. He is viewed as durable, hungry and available at a price around £35 million, provided Brentford line up a replacement.

Photo IMAGO

Jorgen Strand Larsen is described as a “dark horse” target. With 14 goals in his first Premier League campaign at Wolves and a growing reputation for leadership and work rate, the Norwegian forward has climbed the internal rankings. There is admiration from Newcastle’s recruitment team, but Wolves’ £65 million valuation could be prohibitive unless structured creatively.

Photo IMAGO

Watkins and Jackson Among Conditional Options

Ollie Watkins is admired for his consistency and character, and Newcastle are monitoring Aston Villa’s own transfer dealings. Should Villa finalise their signing of Evann Guessand, it could open the door to an approach. However, his age and expected price point make him a complicated target. “He turns 30 in December,” notes Hope, and that alone could cool PIF’s enthusiasm unless Wissa’s deal falls through.

Photo IMAGO

Nicolas Jackson is more complicated still. Chelsea’s initial asking price of £80 million has softened to a potentially negotiable £60 million. There is knowledge of the player’s background and links between clubs, but Jackson’s suspension, temperament and fit raise doubts. “I haven’t really picked up strong vibes on this one,” writes Hope, despite his youth and top-flight experience.

Photo IMAGO

Muniz, Ramos, Openda and the Long Shots

Rodrigo Muniz offers a developmental profile. Informal talks occurred in July, with £40 million mooted. While the Brazilian is admired internally, his signing would require a rebalancing of targets. Fulham’s earlier rejection of Leeds’ bid suggests Newcastle would need to overpay to get him.

Photo IMAGO

Goncalo Ramos, once floated as a marquee replacement for Isak, now appears off the table. Despite availability at PSG, Newcastle are “not interested for the time being.” Similarly, RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda remains a known quantity but not a current priority.

Phot IMAGO

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, now unattached, may only come into play later in the window. His injury record and declining goal return place him well below current targets. But free agents with Premier League pedigree can quickly rise to relevance when windows close.

Photo: IMAGO

Short-Term Fix, Long-Term Consequence

There is growing acceptance that Newcastle could begin the season with Anthony Gordon as a makeshift striker. “He will play in his way,” Eddie Howe told Daily Mail Sport, acknowledging the limitations but also the necessity of experimentation. Gordon’s ability to float, rather than play back to goal, makes him a short-term stopgap rather than a long-term solution.

Photo: IMAGO

“Newcastle did not win any of the four Premier League matches without Isak last season,” Hope reminds us. It is a stark reality that frames every decision the club makes over the next few weeks.

Isak’s Future Tied to Recruitment Dominoes

The Isak situation looms large over every conversation. He has made his preference clear: he wants to join Liverpool. That won’t happen until replacements are secured, but it is also why he is being held out of training and unavailable for this weekend’s friendlies.

Photo: IMAGO

“There is an acceptance… that this is the best way forward for the club,” says Hope, even if it is painful. A sale close to £150 million would set a British record, but it comes with emotional and tactical loss that must be accounted for.

Until two strikers walk through the doors at St James’ Park, Isak remains a Newcastle player in name, if not in spirit. The next few weeks will decide whether this becomes a transition well managed, or a crisis invited.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

The hope that followed early summer rumours has been chipped away by rejections and slow negotiations. Watching Sesko choose Manchester United was bad enough. Knowing that Joao Pedro, Ekitike and Mbeumo also slipped away stings supporters even more.

The club clearly has its eyes on Wissa, and there’s plenty to admire. But is that really enough? With Isak set on a Liverpool move and Wilson already gone, the idea of entering the season with Gordon leading the line feels more desperate than daring. He works hard, he adapts, but he is not a striker.

Strand Larsen is a name fans could get behind. The Wolves tax might be steep, but they’ve paid more for less in the past. Watkins would be ideal if they can stomach the cost. But here’s the issue, timing. The Premier League does not wait for anyone. And Newcastle cannot afford a slow start while chasing last-minute deals.