Newcastle struck gold on £120m “difference-maker” who’s everything Isak was meant to be

The summer transfer window for Newcastle United was a rollercoaster of emotions, a dramatic saga that ultimately culminated in the club’s most significant moment of change in years.

The entire period was dominated by one looming question: what would happen with Alexander Isak? His eventual departure to Liverpool for a British record £125 million fee was the defining event, a seismic shift that forced a complete offensive rebuild and left many wondering how the team would possibly cope without its most clinical finisher.

In the weeks leading up to that blockbuster move, the club’s search for attacking reinforcements seemed to hit one roadblock after another.

A list of promising targets, including Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, and Benjamin Šeško, slipped through their fingers. For a moment, it appeared the Magpies might be left in a precarious position, scrambling for solutions.

Then, the landscape shifted dramatically with the announcement of a club-record £69 million deal for Stuttgart’s exciting German forward, Nick Woltemade.

This move signaled a new direction and finally paved the way for Isak’s exit. It was quickly followed by the acquisition of proven Premier League performer Yoane Wissa from Brentford for £55 million, a signing that suddenly gave the attack a very different, yet intriguing, new look.

Of course, the business wasn’t solely about replacing goals. The squad was intelligently bolstered across the pitch with the additions of defender Malick Thiaw, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, winger Anthony Elanga, and midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

This injected vital depth and competition, but the undeniable reality remained: the team had lost a player who contributed 23 Premier League goals and eight assists the previous season.

Isak’s unique ability to stretch defenses, link play, and finish with cold efficiency had given Newcastle’s attack a specific balance and a potent threat. The immediate challenge for manager Eddie Howe would be to find a new formula without that singular focal point.

The early signs on the pitch have been a mixed bag. The team displayed energy and structure in opening fixtures against Aston Villa and Liverpool, but a clear cutting edge was missing.

Anthony Gordon worked selflessly in a makeshift striker role, but his subsequent red card highlighted the lack of a natural number nine, forcing young William Osula into the spotlight.

This transitional phase, however, is expected to be short-lived. The proven Premier League experience of Yoane Wissa will soon provide a direct solution, offering pace, intelligent movement, and a reliable goalscoring instinct.

Woltemade, a tremendous talent, will likely be integrated more gradually as he adjusts to the unique physical demands of English football.

The new strategy is clear: goalscoring responsibility must now be shared across the entire forward line. The burden cannot fall on one individual.

Instead, the attacking output will need to come from a collective effort from Wissa, Woltemade, Gordon, Elanga, and Harvey Barnes.

This represents a fundamental philosophical shift from relying on a talismanic striker to building a more multifaceted and unpredictable offensive unit.

Yet, while the focus has been on who left, the most important story might be about who stayed. In the midst of the Isak saga, the club’s true talisman and heartbeat remained firmly in place.

Captain Bruno Guimarães, at 27 years old, has emerged as the undeniable leader of Eddie Howe’s project. His importance to the team cannot be overstated.

Despite concrete interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal reportedly prepared to pay £120 million for his services, Bruno reaffirmed his commitment to the club he has called home since January 2022.

This loyalty, following the signing of a new five-year contract just last October, demonstrates a profound belief in the long-term vision at St. James’ Park.

His influence is what makes him everything a franchise player should be. Manager Eddie Howe has previously called him the “difference-maker,” a label backed up by a stunning all-around statistical profile. He is the complete modern midfielder, the engine that drives the team forward in every phase of play.

The following table illustrates the breadth of his influence during the 2024/25 season:

Metric	Bruno Guimarães (2024/25)
Matches Played	38
Minutes	3,271
Goals	5
Assists	6
Progressive Passes	271
Progressive Carries	64
Pass Completion Rate	82.3%
Shot-Creating Actions (per 90)	3.66
Tackles (per 90)	2.29

Source: FBref

These numbers paint the picture of a player who is everywhere at once breaking up opposition play, progressing the ball through carries and incisive passes, and contributing directly to goals.

Howe has constructed his entire midfield system to maximize these strengths, giving Bruno the license to dictate the tempo and act as the crucial link between defense and attack.

With Isak gone, the blueprint is clearer than ever: this is Bruno Guimarães’s team. As the new attacking partnerships of Wissa and Woltemade take time to settle and develop chemistry, it will be the Brazilian captain who provides the consistency, leadership, and sheer quality to keep Newcastle competitive on all fronts.

His decision to stay, when he could have chosen a different path, is more than just a boost to the squad; it is a powerful symbol of belief.

For the fans, it is proof that despite the loss of a great striker, they still have a world-class leader to rally around—a true difference-maker who embodies the present and future of the club.