Newcastle United’s search for a new striker is becoming increasingly frustrating, if not entirely unsolvable.
It’s looking like Yoane Wissa’s move from Brentford is more unlikely to happen than anything before at this point, and to make matters worse, Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected a second, improved £55million bid for Jorgen Strand Larsen on Tuesday.
Chris Waugh of The Athletic reported on Wednesday morning that Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s recruiting team are determined to add at least one forward
before the deadline, though progress has been slow, and with just a few days until the end of the summer transfer window, there’s still a chance the Magpies simply can’t complete any transfer at all to bolster their forward corps.
Newcastle had a £35m offer plus £5m in add-ons for Wissa turned down last week, and there has been no follow-up bid since, although reports are that both clubs keep talking about the transfer and trying to find common ground for an agreement.
Brentford, however, remain resistant to selling the 28-year-old DR Congo international, who scored 20 times last season.
Newcastle has seemingly turned to Strand Larsen, who has long been on their shortlist and is positioned at the top of it following an endless string of whiffs on other targets.
Wolves, however, immediately rebuffed their £50m approach on Monday and a subsequent, improved £55m bid submitted by the Magpies on Tuesday morning, insisting the 25-year-old is not for sale.
The Norwegian scored 14 goals last term and netted twice in the Carabao Cup against West Ham on Tuesday, and he’s believed to be open to joining Newcastle, but Wolves are demanding a hefty price and want to have a replacement in place before considering any deal to sell their striker.
With both pursuits uncertain at best, Newcastle are exploring transfers for other reported names, including Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos, Porto’s Samu Aghehowa, and Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth.
It’s looking increasingly likely that a loan move, with or without an option to buy, and although not considered the favorite option for NUFC’s brass, is also under consideration as a short-term solution if only because the club only has Will Osula as a bona fide No. 9 entering the season.
Alexander Isak’s strike continues to cloud matters, though Waugh stresses that the search is focused on finding a replacement for Callum Wilson, not the Sweden international, whether Isak leaves the club or not to play for Liverpool starting Sept. 1.
