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Three strikers on Newcastle’s list of potential Alexander Isak replacements, including £40m Premier League ace
Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa are among Newcastle’s list of striker targets to potentially replace Alexander Isak. The Magpies have three stars on their radar should their key man depart St James’ Park amid interest from Liverpool. Sesko scored 21 goals for RB Leipzig last season and is a target for Newcastle and Man United, having previously been linked with ArsenalGetty Newcastle face the prospect of losing Isak after he told the club he wants to leave having been left out of their pre-season squad for a tour of Singapore. Isak has informed them that he wants to explore his options, but the 25-year-old has stopped short of an official transfer request as of yet. Liverpool, who signed former Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike for £79million from Eintracht Frankfurt, have shown interest in the Swede. Newcastle now look set to ramp up their search for a new striker, with Sesko one of the names on their list. Eddie Howe is a long-term admirer of the RB Leipzig striker and has tracked his progress at the German side, where he has 39 goals and eight assists in 87 appearances. Sesko has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer and, while Arsenal opted to sign Viktor Gyokeres over the 22-year-old Slovenian, talkSPORT understands Manchester United remain interested. Brentford’s Wissa is another target for Newcastle, with the Bees demanding at least £40m to sell. The Magpies have already seen a £25m offer for the DR Congo star rejected and were readying a second bid of around £30m. However, Brentford feel they can afford to drive a hard bargain after selling Bryan Mbeumo for £65m plus add-ons to Man United. Should Wissa be unattainable, Newcastle are also interested in Sesko’s RB Leipzig teammate Lois Openda. Newcastle have been told how much it will cost to sign WissaGetty Openda managed 13 goals and 11 assists for RB Leipzig last seasonAFP The Belgian has scored 41 goals and assisted 18 others in his last two seasons, and been previously linked with Bayern Munich. Newcastle have already added to their attacking stocks this window via the impressive signing of Anthony Elanga in a £55m deal from Nottingham Forest. However, their efforts to sign a striker have so far been problematic. Joao Pedro was one of the names on their shortlist after two strong campaigns with Brighton. But Chelsea beat them to his signing in a £60m move, with the Brazilian scoring three goals in three games at the Club World Cup. Ekitike was another option for Newcastle, but Liverpool beat the Magpies to the punch. Isak has been excellent for Newcastle since his 2022 move from Real Sociedad – but is now looking to explore his options away from St James’ ParktalkSPORT He has signed a six-year deal and already joined his new teammates for their pre-season tour in Asia. Howe’s hopes of keeping Isak Uncertainty over Isak’s future at Newcastle is nothing new as Arsenal have held long-term interest. Howe left him out of their squad that lost 4-0 to Celtic in a friendly last week amid the speculation over a move to Liverpool. However, he insisted that the club want to keep him this summer. “I’d never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I’ve been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly,” he said. “But, the desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be. Fingers crossed that will happen for us. Howe could lose his star player just weeks before the season startsAFP “We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay, and that is right through the club. “He’s an outstanding talent and a player we cherish. I think for any player speculation’s not an easy thing to deal with and not an easy thing to understand. “When you’re fielding calls and messages from players and people asking you all sorts. “The media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide. “I don’t think it’s easy for any player to be under that scrutiny and that’s part, ten per cent, of the reason why he wasn’t here today. “I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week.”
Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa are among Newcastle’s list of striker targets to potentially replace Alexander Isak.
The Magpies have three stars on their radar should their key man depart St James’ Park amid interest from Liverpool.
Newcastle face the prospect of losing Isak after he told the club he wants to leave having been left out of their pre-season squad for a tour of Singapore.
Isak has informed them that he wants to explore his options, but the 25-year-old has stopped short of an official transfer request as of yet.
Liverpool, who signed former Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike for £79million from Eintracht Frankfurt, have shown interest in the Swede.
Newcastle now look set to ramp up their search for a new striker, with Sesko one of the names on their list.
Eddie Howe is a long-term admirer of the RB Leipzig striker and has tracked his progress at the German side, where he has 39 goals and eight assists in 87 appearances.
Sesko has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League this summer and, while Arsenal opted to sign Viktor Gyokeres over the 22-year-old Slovenian, talkSPORT understands Manchester United remain interested.
Brentford’s Wissa is another target for Newcastle, with the Bees demanding at least £40m to sell.
The Magpies have already seen a £25m offer for the DR Congo star rejected and were readying a second bid of around £30m.
However, Brentford feel they can afford to drive a hard bargain after selling Bryan Mbeumo for £65m plus add-ons to Man United.
Should Wissa be unattainable, Newcastle are also interested in Sesko’s RB Leipzig teammate Lois Openda.
The Belgian has scored 41 goals and assisted 18 others in his last two seasons, and been previously linked with Bayern Munich.
Newcastle have already added to their attacking stocks this window via the impressive signing of Anthony Elanga in a £55m deal from Nottingham Forest.
However, their efforts to sign a striker have so far been problematic.
Joao Pedro was one of the names on their shortlist after two strong campaigns with Brighton.
But Chelsea beat them to his signing in a £60m move, with the Brazilian scoring three goals in three games at the Club World Cup.
Ekitike was another option for Newcastle, but Liverpool beat the Magpies to the punch.
He has signed a six-year deal and already joined his new teammates for their pre-season tour in Asia.
Howe’s hopes of keeping Isak
Uncertainty over Isak’s future at Newcastle is nothing new as Arsenal have held long-term interest.
Howe left him out of their squad that lost 4-0 to Celtic in a friendly last week amid the speculation over a move to Liverpool.
However, he insisted that the club want to keep him this summer.
“I’d never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I’ve been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly,” he said.
“But, the desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be. Fingers crossed that will happen for us.
“We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay, and that is right through the club.
“He’s an outstanding talent and a player we cherish. I think for any player speculation’s not an easy thing to deal with and not an easy thing to understand.
“When you’re fielding calls and messages from players and people asking you all sorts.
“The media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide.
“I don’t think it’s easy for any player to be under that scrutiny and that’s part, ten per cent, of the reason why he wasn’t here today.
“I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week.”
