It’s probably fair to say Newcastle United fans expected their club’s transfer window to have gone a little differently, but the undertone across the off-season period has been one of disappointment and frustration.

Eddie Howe’s trophy-winning outfit, after all, proved themselves to be capable of permanently shattering the ‘big six’ hegemony in the Premier League, having now qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three seasons, winning the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in March to boot.

But more is needed, and no mistake. Anthony Elanga adds an injection of pace down the right flank, making 23 sprints on his debut against Aston Villa on Saturday, clocking a top speed of 32.7km, as per Sofascore, making him the second-fastest player on the pitch, only behind his electric teammate Anthony Gordon.

However, Alexander Isak was glaringly absent at centre-forward as the interminable saga rumbles on for the Liverpool-linked star. It needs sorting, but Newcastle would be ignorant to keep 100% of their focus on number nine with other areas in need of redress.

Luckily, they haven’t, with Jacob Ramsey marking an astute piece of business.

Why Newcastle signed Jacob Ramsey

Having signed Ramsey from Aston Villa for an initial £39m fee at the weekend, Newcastle have now signed across the park; Malick Thiaw had strengthened the defence, while loanee Aaron Ramsdale adds quality and depth between the sticks and the aforementioned Elanga blistering pace to the right flank.

The English attacking midfielder cited Howe’s “track record of developing players” as one of the key reasons behind his move to St. James’ Park, and indeed, the player’s quality and industriousness suggests he could dovetail right into the squad’s make-up.

With Sean Longstaff having left for Leeds United earlier in the window, Ramsey adds crucial depth but also dynamism to the central ranks, easing the burden on Howe’s trusted midfield triumvirate.

The 24-year-old’s creativity and energy could prove invaluable if given rise within Howe’s tactical remit. The manager’s track record, indeed, bespeaks the reasoning behind completing the signing, and it might end up proving a blinder, should Ramsey find himself combining with Newcastle’s top attacking transfer target.

Newcastle resume talks for Premier League forward

According to the reliable Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle resumed talks with Brentford on Monday as they look to complete a deal for Yoane Wissa.

Despite recent reports suggesting that the Bees have raised their asking price for the 28-year-old striker from £50m to £60m, the Magpies remain focused on getting a move over the line.

However, there is little intention of forking out £50m for the DR Congo international, let alone paying north of that. Hope believes the hours ahead will be crucial in how this saga plays out.

What Yoane Wissa would bring to Newcastle

Of course, there is an elephant in the room in that failure to sign Wissa would reduce the chances of losing Isak significantly, but it’s hard to envisage a repaired relationship with the wantaway Sweden star, who has no intention of accepting reintegration.

And Wissa is a proven Premier League star sure to bring goals to a fluent Magpies side in need of a clinical outlet.

Hailed for his “sensational” finishing by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, Wissa notched 20 goals for Brentford last season, including 19 in the Premier League.

Curiously, he only scored ten of his 19 top-flight goals with his preferred right foot, also bagging five with his left and a further four goals with his head, bespeaking an aerial presence that the likes of Gordon and Elanga would relish.

And Ramsey would pounce at the chance of playing with Wissa too.

Ramsey’s versatility makes him an easy sell for a suitor like Newastle, for he is efficient out on the left too. He notched 17 goals and 19 assists for the Villans, and though struggling through injuries over the past few years, showcased his talents in 2022/23, hitting 13 goal involvements across that Premier League season as a promising up-and-comer.

The energetic approach lends itself to Howe’s focus on sharp transitional play, and with someone like Wissa as the focal point to finish off these slick moves, there’s every chance Newcastle will be able to match last season’s success in reclaiming their place in the Champions League.

Below, you will see Ramsey ploughing through West Ham United’s defence to score a well-worked goal for Aston Villa.

Utilising Wissa’s hold-up play, this could become a frequent and productive combination for Newcastle, especially as data-driven platform FBref revealed the Brentford star produced tactically similar results to Isak last year, both clinical and effective on the ball, crisp with his passing.

Similarly, Ramsey is more than capable of returning the favour, having registered five Premier League assists last year despite only starting 19 matches. Sofascore record that he completed 87% of his passes and created five big chances besides.

Having also won 59% of his ground duels, Ramsey embodies what it means to be a top-performing star in a Howe system, and if careful management of minutes ensures an avoidance of injury setbacks, the Englishman could become a star, linking up with Wissa to redefine Newcastle’s frontline while maintaining a semblance of continuity from the successful attack of recent years.

And Wissa? The experienced talisman comes with the assurance of goals and the promise of fluent performances. He forged an iconic partnership with Bryan Mbeumo at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Thomas Frank even describing the partnership as being “unplayable” at times.

Though the 2024/25 campaign stands out as the magnum opus of Wissa’s career thus far, the best may still be to come if he completes a move to Newcastle in the coming weeks.

Howe has spun a web of players all bearing different qualities, yet a sense of coherence in their tactical intelligence, and their dynamic, athletic approach to their play.

With Wissa stepping in to replace, potentially, Isak as the spearhead, there’s every chance that this coming year could be one of even more illustrious success.

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Rain was the only winner as the BBL game in Coffs Harbour between top-of-the-table Sydney Sixers and defending champions Brisbane Heat was washed out without any play.The game was abandoned just over an hour after it was scheduled to start.The point apiece for the no result put Sixers three points ahead of second-placed Perth Scorchers, who were scheduled to play Sydney Thunder later on Friday.Heat, who beat Sixers in last season’s final but lost to them in Brisbane last week, moved up to fifth with their point.Rain had fallen over the north coast venue for several hours.At one stage, it appeared to have almost ceased, but it intensified and forced the abandonment of the game to the disappointment of the several thousand fans who arrived at the ground.Michael Neser had been scheduled to make his comeback from an hamstring injury suffered almost two months ago while playing for Australia A. Heat had also named wicketkeeper Tom Alsop in their squad, with the England Lions representative poised to make his season debut.Heat, who had lost three games straight before Friday’s washout, will next play Thunder in Brisbane on Monday. Sixers, who suffered their first loss in their last start after winning their first four, face Melbourne Stars at the MCG next Thursday.

GOAL US unpacks the main weekend storylines from the Premier League, La Liga and other top competitions in The Euro XI

Can we jump to conclusions? Are the pieces just perfectly in place for most of Europe's top leagues? 

Liverpool played Everton – the definition of a trap game. But they saw them off, late pressure notwithstanding. Man City and Arsenal then did the Reds an almighty favor by playing out a 1-1 draw in which either manager could have set up a team to win, but neither looked like they really wanted to.

Liverpool are five points clear and not playing well (yet). Further down the table – yes, down – Man United won their game against Chelsea and then tried really hard to lose it. In Germany, Bayern Munich are scoring for fun. And even if PSG-Marseille is postponed until Monday because of heavy rain, there's no doubt that the Parisians will walk it.

Of course, much can change here. Liverpool could start losing. Arsenal could decide they want to win. City could win 20 in a row and no one would bat an eyelid. Until then, though, we're left admiring from afar. But that might not be such a bad thing.

GOAL US presents The Euro XI, with 11 key observations from the weekend.

• AFP
  

  1Mikel Arteta never changes

  Why, Mikel, would you go out and spend big on Victor Gyokeres, Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke, if you aren't going to make the most of them? Arsenal's summer transfer business, from the outside, seemed a state of attacking intent. Here was a manager who loved his defensive structure, taking the handbrake off a little.

  The Gunners could be expansive, maybe even just a little bit fun. But when it came to the big game, Arteta went right back into his shell. The Spaniard deployed seven (!) defensive players against a weakened Man City at home, and relied on a late moment of magic from Gabriel Martinelli to salvage a 1-1 draw.

  Was this tragedy? No. But one point could have been three, if Arteta had just been a little more brave.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  2Pep Guardiola bunkers in

  Man City are in a precarious spot. They are still rebuilding and tweaking, Pep Guardiola fiddling with a team rather than fine-tuning it. And you could see a side still a little uncertain of itself Sunday afternoon.

  City went up 1-0 early thanks to a lovely goal from Erling Haaland. Guardiola's side of old would twist the knife, make it four or five. Instead, Guardiola shrunk and bunkered in. To be fair, it almost worked, but City were frighteningly conservative.

  And even if Arsenal weren't exactly full of attacking inspiration, they could have few complaints about the draw. But something weird is happening: Pep is playing scared.

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  3Erling Haaland is keeping Man City alive

  It is a good thing, then, that Guardiola has a super Norwegian space robot demon to play up front. Haaland wasn't exactly last year, but he was miles off the player that smashed the Premier League goalscoring record in his debut season. Now, it seems, he is determined to restructure his game a little.

  Haaland's whole vibe for a long time is that he was very good at one thing: sticking the ball in the net. Everything else was low priority. But this year, he's changed it up. Haaland is carrying Man City not only by scoring – he has six in five games – but also by affecting the game everywhere else.

  Haaland passes. Haaland defends. Haaland now does a bit of everything. And without him, City would be in a far worse place.

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  4Liverpool keep playing with fire

  It's rather funny that the most likely team to win the Premier League are doing it while looking reasonably poor for long stretches. Liverpool were excellent for 30 minutes in the Merseyside derby. They scored two very nicely crafted goals, and might have had a third if Mo Salah's whipped shot not gone inches wide of the top corner.

  After that, though, they closed into their shell, and let Everton play. They were, in the end, outrun, outworked and perhaps slightly fortunate to come away with three points against their rivals. It's an odd situation, all said.

  Liverpool probably have too much attacking talent to lose in a shootout. But they do a pretty poor job of controlling games from ahead. At some point someone is going to punish them. The question is, who? 

Liverpool have been one of the most active clubs this transfer window with numerous high-profile incomings and outgoings. Arne Slot is using the momentum from his first Premier League trophy to build a formidable side.

Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike are some of the biggest names to have arrived at Anfield this summer. All three of them have found recent success in the Bundesliga and this is a league where recent recruitment from has paid off for Liverpool, with the likes of Dominic Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.

They’ve funded these big moves through a combination of on-field success, low spending in previous seasons and by letting go of some big-name players. Luis Diaz and Jarell Quansah have already left for Germany and now Darwin Nunez is set to move to Saudi Arabia and become the latest high-profile departure, while Harvey Elliott may not be far behind.

While most of Slot’s reign has gone the way Liverpool had hoped, they could be on the verge of losing a player they want to keep and one who is integral to the team.

Pérez targets Konate signing

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid’s President, Florentino Pérez, has identified Ibrahima Konate as a key Real Madrid target next summer, when he is available as a free agent.

This is a strategy that Madrid have enacted in the past, as this summer they secured the signing of Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free after his Liverpool contract expired. Pérez’s hope will be to reunite the pair under the new Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso, so that they may rekindle their defensive connection.

Konate’s current contract sees him earn £70,000 a week, which is less than a third of what his defensive partner Virgil Van Dijk earns. Liverpool’s Director of Football, Richard Hughes, has attempted to rectify this wage disparity and has reportedly offered a new contract that Konate turned down. A report from The Times indicated that the defender wants around £200,000 a week.

Whilst there still seems to be some distance between the two parties’ preferred wages, French journalist Abdellah Boulma has indicated that talks are still ongoing with both Hughes and Konate open to working out a deal.

Konate's significance to Liverpool

There’s a reason both Real Madrid and Liverpool desperately want Konate in their squad for the start of the 2026 campaign – his presence on the pitch has a clear impact on results and defensive form.

Games Played

31

7

Wins

21

4

Draws

7

2

Losses

3

1

Win %

67.7%

57.1%

Avg. Goals Conceded per game

1.47

1.71

Statistics from statmuse

Indeed, Liverpool win 10.6% more games when Konate features, over a 38-game season that will result in between an extra 8 and 12 points. The second major stat is that they conceed 0.24 fewer goals a game when Konate plays, 9.12 goals over a full Premier League season.

Based on their business in the last few windows and their on-field success, Liverpool clearly have more money to spend in order to bring in a Konate replacement if he did leave next summer. However, the difficulty that the club faces is in actually finding a player of high enough quality to replace him.

MatériaMais Notícias

A sensação de que o Fluminense tem sua rota cada vez mais traçada pelos pés de Paulo Henrique Ganso marca a equipe de Fernando Diniz às vésperas de encarar o Fla-Flu pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. A serenidade com a qual o camisa 10 tem surgido bem para a criação de jogadas da equipe de Fernando Diniz se tornou ainda mais latente devido à maneira como o atleta se impôs nos primeiros jogos no Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Nos seis primeiros jogos do Tricolor das Laranjeiras, o jogador de 33 anos marcou dois gols e deu três passes para que seus companheiros estufassem as redes, de acordo com dados do Sofascore. Nesta terça-feira (16), o meia dividirá com Lima a missão de municiar Arias, Gabriel Pirani e Cano.

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Ganso vem se aproximando dos números que obteve em todo o Brasileiro anterior. quando em 33 partidas marcou cinco gols e deu passe para colegas anotarem em cinco oportunidades. Seu embalo também foi refletido na única partida que disputou na atual Copa do Brasil até o momento.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração

Diante do Paysandu, o camisa 10 teve tranquilidade para fazer o Tricolor das Laranjeiras ditar o ritmo da partida e garantir que os comandados de Diniz consolidassem a vitória por 3 a 0 no Mangueirão. Sua maturidade tem se tornado fundamental para que saiba reconhecer o momento no qual a equipe precisa atacar de maneira mais intensa.

Em um clássico diante do Flamengo, cercado de expectativa, caberá a Paulo Henrique Ganso tentar abrir caminhos diante da defesa adversária. Ciente da habilidade de Arias e da eficiência de Germán Cano, o camisa 10 se aprimora para ser o mais certeiro possível.

أعرب محمد هاني، الظهير الأيمن لـ منتخب مصر، عن سعادته بتأهل الفراعنة على بطولة كأس العالم 2026 بشكل رسمي.

وقال هاني، عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “أعتقد أنه من الطبيعي أن تتأهل مصر إلى كأس العالم، فالمجموعة الحالية تستحق التأهل والتتويج بأمم إفريقيا”.

طالع.. مصطفى محمد: التأهل لكأس العالم خطوة أولى.. ونريد أن يزداد طموح الجمهور

وتابع:” اللاعبون الحاليون قادرون على المنافسة، وأي لاعب في المنتخب يستطيع اللعب في أوروبا، ولا توجد مباراة سهلة، فمنتخبات إفريقيا لم تعد سهلة، جميع المنتخبات الآن تمتلك لاعبين يلعبون في أوروبا”.

واستمر: “بطولة إفريقيا صعبة، لكن الفوز بها ليس صعبًا علينا، نحن قادرون على ذلك، نمتلك لاعبين محترفين ومحليين على أعلى مستوى ويمكننا التتويج باللقب”.

بينما أضاف مروان عطية، لاعب خط الوسط، عبر نفس القناة: “ألف مبروك للشعب المصري ولكل مصر، فرحة لا توصف، الصعود إلى كأس العالم ليس بالأمر السهل، وسيُسجل في سيرتنا الذاتية”.

وأكمل: “فخور بنفسي وزملائي، وإن شاء الله سنتمكن من تقديم أداء جيد ونتوج بـ كأس أمم إفريقيا، أحاول تنفيذ التعليمات والاستماع جيدًا والاجتهاد، والله معي دائمًا”.

واسترسل: “نحلم بالفوز بكأس أمم إفريقيا، ولا يقل طموحنا عن ذلك، فنحن منتخب كبير ولنا القدرة على التتويج بالبطولة”.

وأتم: “كان لدي إصرار على العودة من الإصابة لأساعد زملائي ولو بالكلمة، فكل لاعب يجب أن يكون على قدر المسؤولية، وجميع اللاعبين في المنتخب يتحلون بذلك، أحمد الله بعد التعافي من الإصابة، وقد ساعدني زملائي في العودة سريعًا”.

Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a statement 3-0 win over West Ham. While some of the new signings, like Granit Xhaka, put in excellent performances, it was the players who got promoted that won them the game.

Following goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard and Wilson Isidor, manager Regis Le Bris spoke about their significance to the team: “It’s really important for two reasons at least, the first one they showed they can step up today. We’ll see later, but today it was the case. At the same time, they are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season.”

One of the ways Sunderland were most impressive against West Ham was defensively, with the London side only managing shots that valued a total of 0.56 xG.

However, Le Bris is looking to strengthen his defensive unit even further as the club readies a second bid for their top centre-back target.

Sunderland is not giving up on signing Lucumí

Sunderland are planning to put in a second bid for Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumí. Le Bris’s side previously placed a bid worth just over £24 million for the Colombian, which the Italian side rejected.

The bid that Sunderland placed was equal in value to the release clause that Lucumí’s contract previously held. This clause expired in mid-July, and the Black Cats are now expected to place a bid of higher value, according to Italian reports, via Sports Witness.

Bologna have already sold Lucumí’s centre-back partner, Sam Beukema, to Napoli this summer, and there are reports that because of this, the club see Lucumí as unsellable. The report goes on to say that Bologna are hoping to extend the defender’s contract, but as a “contract renewal appears complicated”, the Serie A side may be willing to let Lucumí go for a high enough bid.

On the personal side of the deal, Lucumí is reportedly “keen” on the move, and Sunderland already has a history with Lucumí’s agency, as he is with Wasserman, who also represent three current Sunderland players – Simon Moore, Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil.

Why Sunderland might make Lucumí their club-record signing

Six of Sunderland’s top ten most expensive transfers have come in this window, and if they sign Lucumí, that number will rise to seven. The first bid they placed for the Colombian would have made him the club’s second most expensive player, and depending on the increase in value of the second bid, he could become the club’s record signing.

Last season, Lucumí stood out in Serie A as a ball-playing centre-back who excelled at stopping opposition counter-attacks. For Serie A centre-backs, he ranked in the top 9% for passes completed per 90 and accurate long balls per 90. Additionally, Lucumí averaged just over six ball recoveries per 90, which was in the top 4% of centre-backs. This means that when his side lost possession, he was often there to rectify the situation.

After the opening match, West Ham boss Graham Potter spoke about Sunderland’s performance and somewhat dismissively said, “It wasn’t a result – with the greatest respect – of Sunderland pushing us back and playing well. It was an action, a cross from 30 or 40 metres we should be happy to defend.”

While Sunderland didn’t dominate possession, only having 37% of it, they got the result from well-executed moments and hitting West Ham on the break.

Lucumí’s skill set will allow them to pull off this kind of result more often, as he is both accurate and progressive with the ball, allowing his team to counter quickly, and he specializes in stopping opposition counter-attacks, which will allow his team to exploit them in the transition of play.

Arsenal are now very serious about signing a “world-class” star in a loan-to-buy deal, as he is protected by a massive release clause, according to a report.

Gunners still keen to strengthen in attack

Viktor Gyokeres got off to a dream start in an Arsenal shirt, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win against Athletic Bilbao, while Mikel Arteta has also waxed lyrical about Noni Madueke since the former Chelsea man’s arrival.

Arteta said: “He’s a real threat, I wouldn’t want to play against him and we want to find something else and playing with natural-footed players, he’s going to give us that solution.”

However, with the new Premier League campaign edging ever closer, the Gunners remain keen on strengthening their attacking options, and there have been suggestions they are now closing in on Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.

With a deal for Eze set to be on the expensive side, the north Londoners may not have much money left to spend this summer, which could be why they are looking at signing a different attacker in a loan-to-buy deal.

That is according to a report from Spanish media, which states Arsenal are now very serious about signing Rodrygo, having made plans to sign the Real Madrid forward on an initial loan deal, which could include a mandatory purchase clause.

The Brazilian is thought to be valued at around the €90m (£77m) mark, although he is also protected by a €1bn (£866m) release clause, which showcases how highly the forward was regarded by the Spanish club when signing his most recent contract.

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The 24-year-old’s high wage demands have also proved to be prohibitive in the past, so it could be difficult for the Gunners to get a deal over the line.

"World-class" Rodrygo could flourish at the Emirates

The Brazil international is clearly the type of proven top-level player who could elevate Arsenal’s standards and help them finally win a major trophy, having proven himself in a Madrid shirt over a number of years.

The former Santos man has now chalked up 270 appearances for the Spanish giants, during which time he’s picked up 68 goals and 51 assists, and he is also vastly experienced in the Champions League, scoring 25 goals in the elite competition.

That said, while he has been lauded as “world-class” by Luka Modric, there are doubts over whether the Osasco-born forward is a necessary signing, given that Arsenal have already splashed the cash this summer, signing Madueke and Gyokeres to bolster their attacking options.

With Eze looking increasingly likely to move to north London too, it may only be possible to sign Rodrygo on a loan-to-buy deal, and a deal of that nature may not appeal to Madrid, given that it wouldn’t be immediately beneficial.

Newcastle United have had a helter-skelter of a summer transfer window, and Eddie Howe’s side haven’t reached the end of the tunnel just yet.

Of course, the frenetic nature of this window doesn’t necessarily mean it’s been a poor one for the Magpies, even though a slew of transfer targets have slipped through Toon fingers, namely at centre-forward.

And so we have the Alexander Isak conundrum. Will the Sweden striker play in black and white two weeks from now?

If Newcastle stick to their guns and resist the player and Liverpool’s attempts, his threats of maintaining his self-ostracisation might seem somewhat shallow, for the 25-year-old would surely not jeopardise his career in such a manner, with Champions League football looming and a World Cup campaign looming on the horizon across the pond.

However, keeping Isak at St. James’ Park comes with the huge caveat that there is no telling what version – if any – will front Howe’s ship over the coming year.

That’s why sealing a move for Yoane Wissa is so important.

The latest on Yoane Wissa to Newcastle

Wissa was one of the most prolific forwards in the Premier League last season, scoring 19 goals across the term. Bryan Mbeumo often took the plaudits under Thomas Frank’s wing, but the DR Congo striker was every bit as effective.

Frank, now manager at Tottenham Hotspur, wants to sign Wissa before the closure of the transfer window, thus putting another spanner in the works for Howe.

Luckily, the 28-year-old is determined to sign for Newcastle this summer, having removed all Brentford affiliation from his social media footprint as he looks to seal his move to England’s North East.

A deal for Wissa has always been a separate entity when considering the fight to keep Isak on Tyneside.

That’s why – while Newcastle are prepared to keep their star striker at the club – plans are still being explored for a potential successor.

Newcastle consider rejoining transfer battle

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are willing to forgo their interest in Nicolas Jackson if it means Aston Villa secure the Senegalese’s services, because then they could re-enter the race for Ollie Watkins.

Villa have been hindered by the trammels of PSR this summer, but the public stance at Villa Park is that their 29-year-old talisman is going nowhere, even if they land Jackson from Chelsea.

However, this hasn’t stopped Newcastle from preparing to register their interest once again, though it would seem that Aston Villa are sticking to their £50m valuation.

Why Newcastle should sign Ollie Watkins

Despite the late advance of Tottenham, Wissa continues to keep his sights on Newcastle’s first team, and at some stage, Brentford are sure to ease their resistance.

Whatever happens, Newcastle must also put their focus into signing Watkins, for he would do a half-decent job at stepping in for Isak.

Described as “one of the best 9s in the world” by Statman Dave, Watkins has proven time and time again his expertise as a Premier League frontman, and that could remain so with a one-way trip to Tyneside at this later stage of his career, leading the line as Isak’s replacement, should that come to pass.

He has a good record against Newcastle: five goals and three assists across ten matches. Watkins blanked, however, last weekend.

Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to take from the Premier League a striker rich in potency when pitted against United, and fronting their team with him.

Last season, Watkins wasn’t at his best, but he still managed to finish the league campaign with a return of 16 goals and eight assists.

A willing runner behind defences and a combative forward with a wide breadth of ways to hurt opponents, Watkins would be the cream of a new crop of attacking talent at Newcastle, for sure.

While Wissa and Watkins could cohabit within Howe’s Newcastle frontline, it’s hardly controversial to suggest that the former might outrank the other. The Villan star has proven himself and then some in the world’s toughest league, and he’s also got more variation to his attacking game than the Brentford sharpshooter.

Indeed, as per FBref’s data, Watkins ranks among the top 3% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 19% for progressive carries per 90.

Quite the player. And he’s something of a star on the big stage too, boasting some pretty impressive individual records against the English top flight’s legacy ‘big six’.

As Howe looks to mastermind the latest success in his growing list of triumphs as Newcastle manager, there’s every chance that Watkins at the spearhead would allow Newcastle to reprise their place in the Champions League at the end of the season while competing for further slices of silverware, having gotten a taste for the big prizes during last season’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool.

Would Watkins definitively prove to be an upgrade on Wissa? It would appear so. He’s got more about him, and even after a ‘poor’ campaign in the Premier League last year, the Three Lions star still managed to trail Wissa in his pomp by just three goals.

Newcastle have a problem in Alexander Isak. He has divorced himself from the Newcastle squad and appears willing to stay in isolation.

But with Watkins added to the fold, United would have what they need to attack the season. He’d certainly be an upgrade on Wissa, but given the two forwards would be competing alongside each other, that doesn’t really matter, does it?

Superior to Wissa & Watkins: The "next Gyokeres" is Newcastle's new target

Newcastle could sign the new Viktor Gyokeres before the deadline.

ByMatt Dawson Aug 21, 2025

Manchester United’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko this summer feels as though it’s been dragging out for months, with an end to the saga currently not in sight for the Red Devils.

Ruben Amorim’s side have struggled to win the race for the RB Leipzig striker’s signature, also facing competition from fellow Premier League side Newcastle United.

Rumours have been circulating that current centre forward Rasmus Hojlund could potentially be included in any move to bring the cost of the transfer down this summer.

However, with the September 1st transfer deadline rapidly approaching, the hierarchy will need to act quickly if they are to secure the Slovenian’s signature ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

There’s no denying that the 22-year-old will remain as their number one target between now and the end of the window, but other targets are being considered as a result of the saga.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

As previously mentioned, Newcastle are also considering a move for Sesko, even taking the next step in their pursuit of the forward after submitting their second offer in recent days.

However, David Ornstein confirmed this afternoon that the Red Devils have made their own offer for the 22-year-old, totalling £74m including add-ons – leaving the player to decide which move he prefers this summer.

Despite the update on a move for Sesko, bids are also being prepared for other options, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma a player in their sights, according to Stretty News.

They claim that the Red Devils and Jason Wilcox are preparing a €30m (£26m) bid for the 26-year-old, who currently has one year left on his contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

It also states that the Italian international could be keen on a move to England this summer, after his current employers landed Lucas Chevalier to be their new number one this summer.

Why United’s £26m target would be a better signing than Sesko

There’s no doubt that, after scoring just 44 league goals in their 38 outings last season, United desperately need a new striker if they are to rise up the table throughout 2025/26.

The additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have already added needed quality into the final third, but further moves by Wilcox and co are needed if the club are to endure any success during Amorim’s reign.

Sesko, who scored 21 times last season, would undoubtedly offer an upgrade to the boss, but with the Magpies’ advances, it could make a deal somewhat trickier, even though they have made their own offer in recent hours.

Cheaper alternatives have already appeared on their radar, with Ollie Watkins and Nicolas Jackson two Premier League-proven options they could turn to as a result.

Both could easily fill the needed void at the top end of the pitch, with any money saved potentially playing a huge part in their move to land goalkeeper Donnarumma.

A shot-stopper has also been desperately needed, with current number one Andre Onana out injured, but also dropping multiple clangers during his spell in the side last season. Indeed, he made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League and Europa League combined.

The Cameroonian cost the side in numerous key moments, including the Bilbao final, where he was unable to keep the ball out from Brennan Johnson’s close-range effort.

Donnarumma, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former ‘keeper Diego Lopez, has showcased his talents in recent times, registering 2.2 saves per 90 last season, helping the French side win the Champions League.

He also ranked in the top 15% of all ‘keepers in Europe for goals conceded per 90, handing United that needed quality they’ve been lacking between the sticks in recent months.

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

24

Goals against per 90

1.08

Saves made

2.2

Save percentage

70%

Pass accuracy

86%

Defensive actions outside the box

0.9

% of passes launched

13%

Errors leading to goals

0

The major key to any move for the former AC Milan star is his lack of errors, not making a single mistake that led to a goal, which would see him massively provide an upgrade on Onana.

£26m for a player of his calibre in today’s market would be phenomenal business, handing Amorim a superb option to bolster his chances of success at Old Trafford.

There’s no doubt that Sesko would provide an excellent option in attacking areas, but there are cheaper options available this summer that could offer just as big of an impact, which could also free up funds to pursue a move for Donnarumma.

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