As we approach the beginning of the 2025/26 Premier League season, things are beginning to happen at Newcastle United in terms of transfers.
Exciting winger, Anthony Elanga, has already been secured from Nottingham Forest, whilst Sean Longstaff has joined top-flight newcomers, Leeds United.
Isak off to Liverpool?
Much of the talk still surrounds Alexander Isak, and it's blindingly obvious why Eddie Howe doesn't want to lose the striker, particularly to a Premier League rival in Liverpool.
26 goals in 40 games during 2024/25 was 17 more than any other player in the squad managed, and not one of them got into double figures.
Ahead of another gruelling campaign, the Magpies simply cannot countenance letting him leave.
There had been suggestions that the club were going all out to sign RB Leipzig hitman, Benjamin Sesko, who would clearly be a replacement for Isak, however, recent reports would suggest that Manchester United are closer to signing the Slovenian at this point.
In any event, player power has grown over the years to the point where it becomes almost impossible for a club to keep hold of an unhappy member of first-team playing staff if they're dead set on moving elsewhere.
Wissa threatens Brentford
Take Brentford's Yoane Wissa as another example.
The attacking midfielder is so desperate to join Newcastle that it's understood he's threatened the Bees' hierarchy he'll never play for the west London club again - unless they accede to his demands.
He even bailed out of warm weather training and took himself back to London recently in an attempt to try and force the issue.
“He has gone back to London,” Brentford head coach Keith Andrews said. “It was his decision, obviously because of speculation.
“There are clubs interested, and he felt it was the right thing to go back to London."
Newcastle are believed to have offered £25m for the 28-year-old, who has a stated aim of wanting to play Champions League football, though Brentford are holding firm and expecting Wissa to rejoin them for training back in the capital.
Great goalscoring output
After the winger posted figures of 20 goals and four assists in 38 matches during 24/25, the west London outfit can't be blamed for their position, particularly coming so soon after they lost Bryan Mbeumo to Man United.
Yoane Wissa xG 2024/25Opta by Stats Perform
Wissa's pace has also caused defences untold problems over the past few seasons, and his 11 fast breaks last season were the most of any Brentford player.
Mbuemo came closest with nine, with the only other player of note in this regard was Kevin Schade with six.
A shooting accuracy of 60.8% is amongst the top players in the squad, whilst his conversion rate of 27% places him top of the tree once more. 96 shots at goal and 45 on target are also the most in the Bees squad.
One area that does require significant improvement is Wissa's passing ability. A 79.9% completion rate isn't that bad, but doesn't look great when most of his colleagues are posting 80%+.
Yoane Wissa Pass Completion 2024/25Opta by Stats Perform
Furthermore, his 586 attempted was almost a third less than some of his teammates, indicating a certain disassociation in terms of involvement in Brentford's attacking moves.
In a team such as Newcastle who thrive on the abilty of their players to be able to deliver accurate passes for the most part - only Isak (76.7%) and Jacob Murphy (75.5%) have posted figures below 80% - Wissa would absolutely have to step it up a gear or two to be a success in the role.
Defensively too the player falls well short. 84 ball recoveries is around half of Brentford's other attackers, and a 44.5% one-on-one duel success is way down the pecking order.
Yoane Wissa Radar Chart 2024/25Opta by Stats Perform
What happens next then is likely to be Newcastle's call.
It's clear that they want the player and just as clear that he wants to join so the question for Brentford is whether Wissa really isn't for sale 'at any price' or the Bees are just playing hardball over a fee.
Newcastle have to be careful
With no other transfers on the horizon as yet despite the speculation, Howe and his backroom team need the boost that another new signing will bring, or else they run the risk of heading into the new campaign not really too much better off than they were last season.
That's not really good enough for a club that wants to be genuine title contenders and competitive in all of the major competitions.
All of that said, there are enough reasons for them to proceed cautiously and with patience and care where Wissa is concerned because Newcastle simply aren't in a position to take a gamble.
Speed, goals and assists certainly all count in his favour, but the Magpies do already have a mix of that with the players they already have in situ.