Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, takes notes
As well as seeking a goalscoring right-winger, a shiny new centre-back and additional reinforcements in between the sticks, Newcastle United simply must sign a striker this summer. This, after
The No 9 bid a teary farewell to St James' Park in the club's season finale against Everton, before Eddie Howe swiftly moved to play down talk of a nailed on exit. Instead, the Newcastle boss was still open to keeping Wilson at the club - if a deal that suited all parties, financially, was agreed.
The 33-year-old has been offered reduced terms, with more focus put on performance-based incentives, but has ultimately decided to seek another challenge elsewhere in the final years of his career. Now, Newcastle must move to ensure Howe's attacking department is replenished.
Newcastle have already made their move for a potential replacement this summer, ultimately missing out on a move for Joao Pedro, who last week c.
The Brazilian ticked a number of boxers for Howe, being used as a centre-forward, second striker and winger at different stages of last season for Brighton. Pedro, 23, is the correct age profile to meet Newcastle's current recruitment preferences and has long been admired by Howe, who also tried to sign him in 2022.
Now, it is back to the drawing board as Newcastle seek to find a player who can improve their team, while also being content with initially playing as backup to Alexander Isak. The Swede is far and away United's best attacking outlet and unless Howe seeks to change from his 4-3-3 system, will likely remain the number one striking option in the St James' Park dressing room.
Howe has often spoken of incoming players needing to be versatile, with a big emphasis placed on signing players who can occupy more than one role in a forward line. Anthony Gordon, William Osula and Isak himself can all play through the middle or out wide and it would be no surprise to see Newcastle target a similar model of player this summer.
Talks continue for a deal over Anthony Elanga, who certainly fits that mould. The Nottingham Forest winger can play on either flank and recently led the line for Sweden in Isak's absence.
However, Elanga would be seen as an immediate challenger to Jacob Murphy on the right of the attack, should he arrive, and there is still a belief a Wilson replacement is absolutely necessary.
Is Osula ready for a role as Isak's deputy after a full season under Howe's teachings? The Danish youngster has only found the net once in the Premier League after being deployed out wide for the majority of his maiden campaign in the north east.
Or could any of the club's other young guns step up and take on the mantle? Ben Parkinson has tasted first-team football before, while Garang Kuol was once tipped to reach the very top and has recently enjoyed a career resurgence at under-21 level.
Yet it is , who looks the most likely to earn minutes in Howe's first-team. However, at 18 he is still extremely raw.
The preference, both inside and outside the club, will be to seek a fresh face who can immediately fill the void left by Wilson. However, with moves already being made for players in other priority positions, it remains to be seen how much Howe will have to spend on a striker who can push Isak come the return of first-team football in August.
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