Newcastle United face major decisions in attack this summer, with questions growing around the future of Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade in the club following inconsistent returns on investment since their arrival last summer.
Asked directly about their futures and whether established players such as Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, or Darwin Nunez could arrive next summer, the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope provided clarity on the situation.
“Firstly, Wissa,” Hope said. “One colleague believes just that, Wissa is a very
expensive mistake at £55m.”
Hope offered a different view from that person’s.
“My take is that he would have thrived, had he not suffered the knee injury before training with his new team-mates,” Hope said. “Yes, the Wissa we see now looks as if he does not trust his body – and I know there are concerns among some over his running action – but the feeling is that he needs a full summer to build confidence, rhythm and fitness.”
Hope went as far as adding that Eddie Howe’s staff remain supportive of Wissa and won’t just consider this season as the ultimate decider of his fate in Tyneside.
“Howe and his staff won’t give up on Wissa, even though yes, at present, he is now behind Osula in the pecking order,” Hope said. “He isn’t in a good place in terms of being able to impact, but there needs to be understanding. He scored 19 Premier League goals last season for Brentford.”
On Woltemade, Hope dismissed the never-ending exit claims surrounding the Germany international.
“As for Woltemade, like Wissa he would benefit from a full summer (he won’t get it because of the World Cup) but reports of him telling the club he is unhappy and wants to return to Germany are not true,” Hope said.
Regarding replacements, Hope hinted at NUFC exploring a different direction than the one painted in the rumor mill these days.
“If another striker were to come in this summer, and there is a strong chance of that, I don’t think those three mentioned would fit the profile,” Hope said. “It’s on Newcastle’s recruitment team to unearth a striker aged 24 or younger with scope for development, and that would most likely be from the continent.”
