· 8 July 2025, 13:00
**It was finally confirmed on Monday that Callum Wilson had left Newcastle United after his contract expired.**
While Eddie Howe was keen to keep Wilson at the club, Wilson didn't want to sign an incentivised deal when there were other offers on the table.
In fairness, it already felt like the striker had made his mind up at the end of the season when he waved a tearful goodbye to the fans after the defeat to Everton at St James' Park.
Wilson was on pundit duty for DAZN at the Club World Cup this summer which may be a reason why the announcement was delayed, but now that it has been confirmed that the 33-year-old has left the club, the big question is who will be the next to don the famous No. 9?
Alexander Isak has already hinted that he'd refuse the No. 9 shirt
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Alexander Isak seems the obvious choice given that he is Newcastle's main goalscorer and star striker, but the Swede has already distanced himself from the shirt in an interview with the Adopted Geordies last season.
However, after saying that he likes playing in the number 14, which was his hero Thierry Henry's number, he did later tell Alan Shearer that he understands what the No. 9 shirt means at Newcastle.
It's likely that Isak was initially just being respectful, given that Callum Wilson was still at the club and in possession of the number 9 shirt.
If nobody worthy comes in this summer, then leave the number vacant
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With Newcastle expected to open talks with Isak over a new deal in the very near future, we'd not be too shocked if he's handed the iconic jersey as part of the negotiations; however, should he opt to stick with 14, that leaves the number vacant.
We still have no idea who Newcastle plan to bring in as a replacement for Callum Wilson, but we will say this - if it ends up being Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they had better not give the number 9 to him.
Wilson was arguably our best Number 9 since Alan Shearer, after a few half-decent owners in between with the likes of Papiss Cisse and Obafemi Martins two that spring to mind, but Calvert-Lewin, with his goal-scoring record in recent seasons, not to mention his injury record, is not worthy of such an iconic shirt.
If he ends up being our only striker signing this summer, then leave the number vacant until we buy someone worthy.