With just days before the new Premier League season kicks off, Newcastle United are accelerating plans to fill the most glaring hole in their squad.
Eddie Howe’s side, back in the Champions League for another campaign, are looking beyond their ongoing pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey to secure an experienced forward capable of leading the line from day one.
The urgency stems from a turbulent summer in attack.
Alexander Isak has made it clear he has no plans to reintegrate into the squad if he is not sold before the transfer window closes, while Callum Wilson has joined West Ham on a free transfer.
The result is a glaring lack of senior strikers ahead of a season-opener away to Aston Villa – a venue where Newcastle suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat last term.
Newcastle’s latest transfer plans
Talks over Ramsey, valued at around £40m, reportedly continue in the background.
Whilst he would be a welcome addition, what Howe needs now is a proven scorer, one who can deliver in the Premier League and thrive in European competition.
An agreement for Ramsey is edging closer, with a deal potentially wrapped up by the end of the week. However, another move could be completed for a new centre-forward soon, too.
The striker in question is Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
According to reports from Africafoot, the Congolese forward is ready for a new challenge after the best season of his career, and he is set to choose Newcastle over Nottingham Forest and Saudi Pro League side Neom SC, with an agreement potentially set to be struck by the end of the week.
Personal terms are not thought to be an issue, with a transfer fee in the region of £30 million under discussion.
For Howe, Wissa’s appeal is obvious. In 2024/25, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 35 Premier League appearances – only Mohamed Salah scored more non-penalty goals.
His availability was another asset, missing just six games with an ankle injury, while racking up 3,072 league minutes.
The chemistry he forged with Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford – described by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam as “absolutely sensational” – was built on movement, quick exchanges, and intelligent positioning.
It’s the sort of link-up play Newcastle will hope he can recreate with Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes, giving the Magpies multiple angles of attack in their 4-3-3 setup.
Why Wissa Is a bigger priority than Jacob Ramsey
It is not just the raw numbers that make Wissa attractive – his all-round game is a blend of efficiency and involvement.
According to FBref, last season he recorded a 76.5% pass completion rate (better than both Erling Haaland and Isak), more shot-creating actions per 90 than Dominic Solanke, and more touches per 90 (34.1) than Liam Delap or João Pedro.
He also carries the ball further in progressive distance than Delap or Solanke, making him as effective in build-up phases as he is in the penalty area.
Ramsey is a player Newcastle have admired for some time, and there is a case to be made for adding his energy and line-breaking ability to the midfield.
But the numbers tell their own story. In 136 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old has scored just 14 goals, with only 1 goal and 5 assists last season.
Those are useful contributions, but they don’t solve Newcastle’s most pressing problem.
Without a striker, Howe’s team lacks a focal point to turn possession into goals.
Wissa provides exactly that, while also offering tactical flexibility to operate centrally or drift wide, enabling rotations with wingers and creating overloads in wide areas.
His progressive carrying distance and high touch count mean he can drop deep to link play, a valuable trait when facing compact defences in Europe or the Premier League.
Reliability in front of goal is another decisive factor. Wissa’s knack for finding space inside the box, combined with his ability to finish with either foot, makes him a constant threat.
His presence would immediately restore balance to Newcastle’s attack, freeing players like Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali to focus on creating rather than compensating for a missing striker.
Admittedly, Wissa is older than Newcastle’s preferred 24-and-under recruitment model, turning 29 in September, and he is likely to miss time during the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations.
But those drawbacks are outweighed by the need for an immediate, proven solution in a Champions League season.
Spending £30m on a forward who can start and deliver now is more justifiable than committing a similar outlay on a midfielder whose position is already somewhat covered by the aforementioned Guimarães, Tonali.
In short, Ramsey would enhance Newcastle’s options – Wissa could define their season.
