Newcastle United will hope to challenge for silverware once again this season after lifting the Carabao Cup last term, even in the wake of Alexander Isak’s high-profile rebellion at St. James’ Park and ultimate transfer to Liverpool.
Isak cost a pretty penny when arriving from Real Sociedad in a club-record £63m deal in 2022, but he has since lined the pockets of the owners, contributing toward a period of newfound success and joining Liverpool for a British record £125m fee.
In Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Eddie Howe has a few new forwards with enough talent to lead the line with confidence through the Premier League and Champions League seasons, though it might be a tall order to expect them to hit the same heights as the Sweden striker from the beginning.
Newcastle's tough task replacing Isak
Wissa has plied his craft in the Premier League for four years, joining Brentford from Lorient in France, and he struck a new level of form last year, scoring 19 league goals and being praised by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam for his “sensational” ability in front of goal.
However, Wissa isn’t on the same level as Isak, who didn’t just bang them in for the Tynesiders but played with such smoothness and creativity too, with pundit Ally McCoist even hailing him as the “best all-round centre-forward”.
Woltemade arrives with potential, but he’s not Isak. Howe’s Newcastle system is steeped in efficient and slick transitional play, and that requires a striker both intelligent and coaxing a big chance into being and then deadly with the finishing touch.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
28 (17)
Goals
19
12
Assists
4
2
Shots (on target)*
2.6 (1.2)
1.8 (0.9)
Big chances missed
17
11
Pass completion
79%
72%
Big chances created
3
8
Key passes*
0.8
1.3
Dribbles*
0.4
1.1
Ball recoveries*
2.3
1.9
Tackles + interceptions*
0.8
0.5
Duels (won)*
3.4
4.4
The jury is out for both of them, however, Newcastle once had a number nine who has proven their quality at the very highest level in the Premier League and may well have been a success in Howe’s current title-challenging team.
Newcastle sold their original Isak
A decade ago, Newcastle signed young centre-forward Ivan Toney from Northampton Town. He was 19 at the time and considered one of the most underrated prospects in England.
It didn’t work out for the England international, who left for Peterborough in League One in a mere £500k deal before unearthing his prolific potential in front of goal, leading to destructive displays with Thomas Frank’s Brentford, with the manager hailing him as “a monster”.
With Posh, he enjoyed a mighty time of it, scoring 49 in 94. With the Bees, he was even better, netting 72 in 141 outings.
Indeed, after four loan stints while a Newcastle player, the 29-year-old has now realised his capacity to thrive as one of the most physical and threatening forwards in the business, with his tall frame and clever link-up play certainly reminiscent of Isak at the front of Howe’s set-up.
He might not have the same high-speed running as Isak, but Toney is unquestionably a striker of merit, versatile and confident in creating for his peers.
Toney’s clinical performances in the Saudi Pro League, having joined Al-Ahli for £40m in 2024, are merely a continuation of his consistent success in the Premier League, and while there are those who begrudge his decision to leave for the riches of the Gulf, there’s no question that he’d still make the cut at a team like Newcastle.
He scored 30 goals for Al-Ahli last season, and also with a five-goal return in his trail this season, so Toney actually outscored Isak last season, having previously hit 36 Premier League goals across three terms with Brentford.
While it would have been unreasonably expensive to sign Toney this summer, there’s no doubt that the previous Toon regime blundered with this one, and that a young Toney within the current project might have found the perfect environment to have realised his plentiful talents.