Newcastle United have picked out a crucial double signing for manager Eddie Howe as their £50m bid for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen was rejected on Monday.
Strikers still high on Newcastle's agenda
The Magpies’ summer has been dominated by striker news, not least their efforts to keep hold of Alexander Isak, with the Swede still trying to seal a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.
Newcastle missed out on signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig earlier in the summer, with Manchester United snapping him up instead, but a host of alternatives have been mentioned, including Juventus marksman Dusan Vlahovic in recent days.
Premier League pair Yoane Wissa and Nicolas Jackson are also considered genuine targets, with the former doing the same as Isak and refusing to play for his current club, but the primary target to emerge in recent days is Norway star Strand Larsen, who made his loan move to Wolves permanent this summer.
Regardless of what happens with Isak, Callum Wilson’s time at St James’ Park has come to an end and the Magpies must find a solution, but a £50m offer for the Norwegian was rejected on Monday.
Newcastle still targeting two striker signings
According to Football Insider, Newcastle and Howe want and expect to sign not one but two strikers this summer, with journalist Pete O’Rourke further explaining the situation amid the move for Strand Larsen, perhaps implying he will be joined by one of Wissa or Jackson.
“At Newcastle, this will probably drag right on till Deadline Day. Newcastle are digging their heels in – they don’t want to lose Isak, and there’s a lot of obstacles to overcome before a potential move does happen.
“Newcastle need to bring in one, probably two strikers before they would even consider letting Isak go. Then, Liverpool have to meet their valuation – which is around the £150million mark – so this one’s still very much up in the air.”
This is going to be such a pivotal week for Newcastle, with so much potentially happening on the striker front, and it is a short period that could end up defining their season.
If Isak does leave, which doesn’t feel too likely currently, it is essential that two players are brought in, in order to make up for the gaping void that the 25-year-old would leave.
Should he stay put, however, the need for a couple of strikers would be lessened, assuming Isak can reintegrate with his teammates after being made to train alone by Howe.
Put bluntly, Newcastle’s summer has been something of a mess, including how they have handled the Isak saga, but it is imperative that they nail the next week or so.
To lose Isak and not bring in sufficient replacements could be fatal, in terms of the Magpies kicking on in both the Premier League and Champions League, and the ideal outcome would be to see Isak remain at St James’ Park, with a top-quality option such as Wissa joining him as competition.