The summer transfer window was dominated by one major story for Newcastle United: the future of their star striker, Alexander Isak.
For weeks, it seemed almost certain that the Swedish international would complete a British record transfer to Liverpool, the newly crowned Premier League champions.
The biggest challenge for Newcastle wasn’t just accepting the huge fee; it was the nearly impossible task of finding a suitable replacement for a player who had been the heart and soul of their attack.
In the end, the club decided to spread the risk and the responsibility across two new signings. They broke their transfer record to bring in Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and invested significantly in the proven Premier League quality of Yoane Wissa from Brentford.
The idea was that together, their combined goal output could eventually make up for the loss of Isak. However, the start of the season has shown that even the best-laid plans can encounter unexpected problems.
The situation has been far from smooth. Yoane Wissa, the player many expected to provide immediate experience and goals, picked up a knee injury while on international duty before he could even make his debut.
He is now ruled out for several weeks, with his first appearance likely delayed until after the next international break.
This setback forced manager Eddie Howe to explain why he used Woltemade so sparingly against Barcelona, citing the need to carefully manage the German striker’s fitness precisely because Wissa was unavailable. The lack of options has suddenly made the attacking department look very thin.
These early-season complications have demonstrated with crystal clarity how quickly a team can be left short-handed.
It has prompted the club’s recruitment team to already look ahead to the January transfer window to find a solution and add much-needed depth to their attacking roster.
According to reports emerging from Spain, their search has led them to a very interesting and exciting possibility: a loan move for Real Madrid’s highly-rated Brazilian teenager, Endrick.
The 19-year-old prodigy is in a difficult situation at the Bernabeu. He has yet to play a single minute this season under new manager Xabi Alonso, and there is a growing concern from both the club and the player’s representatives that a complete lack of game time could seriously hamper his development.
This is where Newcastle see an opportunity. They are reportedly looking for a “young, dynamic offensive reinforcement hungry for success,” and Endrick is desperate for the chance to gain experience and prove himself.
From a tactical perspective, the potential move makes a lot of sense. While Yoane Wissa is expected back from injury, there is always a risk of a setback or a prolonged period to regain full match sharpness.
In Endrick, Newcastle would be getting a striker with a very similar style of play. Although he is younger and less experienced, their statistical profiles in terms of passing, build-up play, and creativity are remarkably alike.
This similarity would allow manager Eddie Howe to rotate the two players without having to change the team’s entire tactical system.
For Real Madrid, it is also an ideal scenario. They can keep Endrick under contract and ensure he gets the vital first-team minutes he needs to develop, all without taking playing time away from their established stars.
For Newcastle, it would be a chance to add a fantastic talent with a point to prove for the crucial second half of the season. It is a potential deal that appears to perfectly address the needs of everyone involved.
