In talks: Newcastle agree personal terms to sign £50m CF, he’s even better than Sesko

Newcastle United’s pre-season took a painful turn as they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Celtic, a match that exposed glaring vulnerabilities in Eddie Howe’s squad.

The lack of energy on the pitch was evident, and the absence of Alexander Isak only deepened concerns.

The Swedish striker, now heavily linked with a potential big-money move to Al-Hilal, was completely left out of the squad, fueling speculation.

Though Howe insisted post-match that Isak remains committed to Newcastle, the club appears to be preparing for all outcomes behind the scenes, particularly by pursuing new attacking options.

With a new centre-forward high on Newcastle’s list of summer priorities, the club has made significant progress in their search.

Personal terms have reportedly been agreed with Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, signaling serious intent. Although the Magpies still need to finalize a club-to-club deal, their push comes at a time when Brentford are already reluctant to part ways with another key attacker, having recently lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko continues to hover in the background, but the financials involved could prove prohibitive.

A move for the Slovenian forward would cost Newcastle close to £78 million—a stark contrast to the £50 million valuation associated with Wissa.

The argument for signing Wissa over Sesko is more compelling than it might seem at first glance. Wissa is not just a more affordable target; his experience and output in the Premier League offer a level of reliability and adaptability that Newcastle could immediately benefit from.

While Sesko is a rising star in the Bundesliga, with 39 goals from 87 appearances, Wissa has already proven himself on English soil.

He has netted 45 goals in 137 Premier League games, including an impressive 19 last season alone—a tally that underscores his consistent threat in front of goal.

The numbers reveal even more. When comparing Wissa and Sesko’s performances over the last 365 days, the DR Congo international outperforms the Leipzig striker in several key metrics. Here’s how they stack up:

These stats, sourced from FBref, paint a clear picture. Wissa brings more precision, more movement, and more involvement in dangerous areas.

NHis superior pass completion rate and higher shot-creating actions per game suggest he could integrate seamlessly into Eddie Howe’s system, potentially linking up fluidly with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga.

At 5-foot-9, Wissa also brings a low centre of gravity that allows him to dart into tight spaces and create havoc for defenders—attributes Newcastle sorely missed during their clash with Celtic.

Described as a “remarkable” forward by European football analyst Zach Lowy, Wissa isn’t just a goal scorer—he’s a constant attacking presence.

His awareness in the final third and ability to find space in the box mirror the qualities that make Alexander Isak so valuable to Newcastle.

While Sesko has the allure of a high-potential import, Wissa represents a smarter, more grounded investment—especially given Newcastle’s urgent need for proven Premier League quality.

If Newcastle are already at the stage of personal terms with Wissa, they would be wise to accelerate negotiations with Brentford and push the deal across the finish line.

With his Premier League pedigree, statistical advantage, and relatively modest price tag, Yoane Wissa could be the ideal solution for a team that cannot afford to take chances as it seeks to close the gap on the league’s elite.