All summer, Newcastle’s stance was clear: if they could bring in two strikers, they’d consider letting Alexander Isak move on. But behind the scenes, it seems the decision was already made, with Isak viewed as too disruptive. Of course, the club couldn’t admit that publicly, as it would have played right into Liverpool’s hands.
In the end, Newcastle accepted £125m — less than the £150m they were reportedly hoping for — and immediately reinvested the full amount in two forwards: Nick Woltemade for close to £70m and Yoane Wissa for £55m.
Paul Merson believes the success of Newcastle’s striker reshuffle will ultimately be judged against Isak’s impact at Liverpool. Speaking to Sky Sports News (via NUFCBlog), he said:
“Eddie Howe will be hoping the two lads score more goals than Isak, and I think we’ll all be looking at that. At the end of the season, it’ll come down to whether the pair at Newcastle can outscore Isak. If they do, then it was the right decision.”
But it won’t just be about goals. Ideally, Wissa and Woltemade’s combined tally should at least match Isak’s output for Liverpool this season. Wissa, in particular, looks set to be the main man for Howe, while Woltemade adapts to Premier League life.
With Wissa’s scoring record at Brentford and the creativity of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga supplying him, there’s every reason to believe he can deliver again. And even if the duo don’t outscore Isak in year one, there are plenty of other factors that could prove Newcastle made the right move.
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