In the high-stakes world of football transfers, every major signing is a gamble. Clubs spend enormous sums of money based on a player’s past performances, hoping they will adapt to a new team and a new system.
Sometimes, the gamble pays off immediately. Other times, a transfer can be plagued by bad luck from the very beginning, leading to early questions and doubts.
For Newcastle United, their £55 million deadline-day signing of forward Yoane Wissa is, unfortunately, falling into the latter category, creating a frustrating situation for the club and its fans before the player has even kicked a ball.
The excitement that should surround a new arrival has been completely overshadowed by an untimely injury.
Wissa was signed from Brentford after a long pursuit, but he picked up a knee injury while on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo just before finalizing his move.
The initial hope was for a swift recovery, but manager Eddie Howe recently delivered a disappointing update: Wissa’s return has been delayed, and he is now expected to be sidelined for a total of eight weeks.
This means the club and its supporters will have to wait at least two more months to see their new attacking weapon in action.
This extended absence is more than just a minor inconvenience. It is a significant setback for a player who needs to build chemistry with his new teammates and adapt to Eddie Howe’s specific tactical demands.
While the club’s other new striker, Nick Woltemade, has been thrust into the starting lineup and has begun scoring goals, Wissa is stuck in the treatment room.
This has led to a growing sense of frustration, with many wondering if the club’s money could have been better spent elsewhere.
The main point of criticism revolves around the club’s overall strategy. Wissa is 29 years old and will turn 30 during his first season with the club.
While he was a fantastic and consistent performer for Brentford, scoring 19 goals last season, a £55 million fee for a player of his age represents a significant investment in the short-term.
The argument is that for a similar, or slightly larger, amount of money, the club could have targeted a younger player with the potential to lead the attack for many years to come.
This line of thinking is strengthened by the incredible early-season form of another Premier League forward: Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
The 25-year-old Ghanaian has been one of the standout players in the league so far, scoring six goals and providing three assists in his first seven games.
He is younger, appears to be still improving, and possesses a similar profile of pace, power, and directness that Howe values.
Reports in the summer suggested Newcastle were considering a move for Semenyo, but no formal bid was made. He has since signed a new long-term contract with Bournemouth, making any future move for him much more difficult and expensive.
Of course, it is impossible to judge a transfer before a player has even made his debut. The modern game is full of players who overcame early injury troubles to become club legends.
Wissa could very well return in November, hit the ground running, and quickly make everyone forget about this difficult start.
His goal-scoring record in the Premier League is proven, and his work rate is exactly what Eddie Howe demands from his forwards.
However, the current situation is undeniably disappointing. The club invested a huge amount of money in a player who is now injured, while a younger, exciting alternative is setting the league on fire for a rival team.
It highlights the difficult and often unpredictable nature of the transfer market. For now, all Newcastle can do is support Wissa through his recovery and hope that when he finally does pull on the famous black and white shirt, he delivers the performances that justify the club’s faith and investment.
The true judgment on this transfer will come later, but the opening chapter has been a story of frustration and missed opportunity.
