Fresh from a historic season in 2024-25, when Newcastle United finally ended their lengthy trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League, optimism had never been higher on Tyneside.
Under Eddie Howe, the Magpies had transformed from near-misses to cup winners, punctuating their breakthrough with qualification for Europe’s elite competition.
In that light, Newcastle’s bold decision to splurge £55 million on Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga was hailed as a statement of intent. Howe’s squad looked ready to build on their momentum with genuine ambition.
Yet in the space of a few weeks, that initial optimism has sharply curdled into concern. Despite the marquee signing of Elanga, Newcastle have since seen their summer unravel in spectacular fashion.
They have missed out on virtually all of their top targets: goalkeeper James Trafford ultimately rejoined Manchester City; Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both signed for Manchester United; Joao Pedro opted to join Chelsea; and Hugo Ekitike – once heavily linked to the Magpies – departed for Liverpool.
Newcastle’s only subsequent acquisition beyond Elanga is a loan deal for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Southampton – a move widely viewed as underwhelming given the lofty expectations at the start of the window.
Those developments leave Newcastle on the brink of an entirely new crisis. Their star striker and talisman Alexander Isak is reportedly pushing for a move to Liverpool. Reports suggest Isak has declined to renew terms at St. James’ Park and is pressing for the transfer, with Liverpool prepared to smash the British transfer record for his signature.
Should Isak depart, Newcastle would lose their focal point up front – an additional blow after already missing out on several high-profile targets.
To rescue what threatened to be a disastrous summer, Newcastle must now recalibrate quickly. Two leading striker targets were on their radar: RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko - who has since joined Manchester United - and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.
Brentford reportedly face pressure from Wissa to sanction a move, but given the forward’s age (he’ll turn 29 in early September) and Brentford’s substantial £50 million asking price, such a move is no sure-fire homerun.
By contrast, landing Sesko – valued at around €80 million – would have represented a serious coup. The 22‑year‑old Slovenian striker is one of Europe’s most highly rated young talents.
For a club seeking a morale boost and a clear replacement for Isak, this would have been the ideal outcome – a marquee new arrival for which Newcastle would at last be able to claim a victory in a transfer battle with a rival club.
Assuming an Isak sale materialises, Newcastle would need to reinvest wisely. One sensible deployment of transfer funds would be to reinforce their defence by targeting Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, who is believed to command a fee of around £50 million.
Scalvini has established himself as one of Serie A’s best defensive prospects, combining physical presence with technical composure. He would provide real solidity at the heart of Newcastle’s backline. Such an addition would complement their front-line ambitions by ensuring the defence remains robust amid Champions League demands.
Had Newcastle managed to complete both signings – Sesko up front and Scalvini in defence – they would have transformed a window that looked doomed into one that potentially leaves them stronger than before.
A strikeforce led by the powerful 6ft 5ins Sesko, backed by young contributions throughout midfield and secured by a reconstructed backline, could position Newcastle to compete across all fronts. Even if the window edges toward its close, those two decisive moves would salvage positivity and preserve momentum.
Still, the club must navigate carefully. Wissa, though keen to leave Brentford, represents too great a risk if priced at £50 million.
Ramsdale’s loan curtly illustrates Newcastle’s cautious fallback strategy. While Ramsdale is a capable Premier League goalkeeper with experience at Arsenal and Southampton, the move is one that has not captured the imagination of Magpies fans.
Against the backdrop of losing out on elite targets, fans and pundits alike expect more than stop-gaps. A decisive double transfer would illustrate renewed ambition and smart planning. It would be exactly the kind of injection needed to steady the ship.
Newcastle’s summer started with promise following their historic Carabao Cup triumph and Champions League qualification. Their £55 million signing of Elanga was initially welcomed as ambition. Yet the subsequent cascade of rejections, failures to tie up key targets and now the potential loss of Isak have left fans uneasy.
Despite this, there remains a genuine route to recovery. Done properly, Newcastle could still enter the new season stronger than they left the previous campaign and salvage what threatened to be a disastrous transfer window.
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