Newcastle United pushing to seal £70m swoop as Eddie Howe offers transfer response

The winds of change are blowing through St James’ Park as Newcastle United brace for a transformative period in the transfer market.

With star striker Alexander Isak reportedly pushing for an exit, manager Eddie Howe finds himself at a crossroads – needing to simultaneously replace his most potent attacking threat while strengthening a squad that showed glaring vulnerabilities last season.

As the Magpies hierarchy scrambles to reshape the team, two primary targets have emerged as potential solutions to their most pressing needs.

Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, the Congolese forward who has deliberately distanced himself from training with his current club, appears increasingly likely to make the £35 million switch to Tyneside.

His omission from Brentford’s weekend friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach only fuels speculation that a deal is imminent.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Newcastle are closing in on German international Malick Thiaw from AC Milan. The towering center-back, who spent the weekend in Dublin during Milan’s friendly against Leeds United, represents a £35 million solution to Newcastle’s defensive frailties.

Thiaw’s acquisition would fulfill a long-standing pursuit by the Magpies’ recruitment team and provide much-needed stability to a backline that conceded too easily last campaign.

Howe remained characteristically guarded when pressed about potential arrivals after Newcastle’s friendly against Atletico Madrid. “We’ve got some work to do in the transfer market,” he admitted cautiously.

“That’s the only place we can address our needs in the coming weeks. While we have excellent players, the squad currently lacks balance after several departures.”

The Newcastle manager’s measured comments mask the urgency of their situation. Losing Isak would deprive them of their most clinical finisher – a player capable of turning half-chances into goals.

Wissa, while a different profile of forward, offers Premier League-proven quality and the versatility to play across the front line.

His potential arrival would soften the blow of Isak’s departure, though questions remain about whether he can single-handedly replace the Swede’s output.

Thiaw’s impending signing addresses another critical weakness. Newcastle’s defensive record last season fell well below the standards of their top-four challenging campaign the previous year.

The 24-year-old German brings aerial dominance, composure in possession, and the physical attributes to thrive in England’s demanding top flight.

As the August 31 deadline approaches, Newcastle’s transfer activity appears to be accelerating. The potential double swoop for Wissa and Thiaw represents a sensible start, but with Isak’s future uncertain and other areas needing reinforcement, the Magpies’ recruitment team faces a busy few weeks.

Howe’s admission about squad imbalance highlights the delicate juggling act required. While new signings can inject quality, maintaining team cohesion during this period of transition will be equally important.

The coming weeks will test Newcastle’s ambition and strategic planning as they attempt to build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts while potentially losing their most valuable asset.

One thing is certain – the version of Newcastle United that takes the field in September will look markedly different from the one that finished last season.

Whether these changes propel them forward or set them back remains to be seen, but the club’s hierarchy appears determined to make this a transformative summer at St James’ Park.