After finishing the 2024/25 campaign on a high, Newcastle United approached the summer transfer window with excitement. But as is becoming habitual on Tyneside, there have been challenges and setbacks.
However, one of Eddie Howe's superpowers is his ability to weather adversity and rally his club, and so in spite of missing out on Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro and Mohammed Kudus and maybe Matheus Cunha too, the Magpies are beginning to take shape.
Newcastle-Mbeumo-Premier-League
A deal with Nottingham Forest has been agreed for Anthony Elanga, worth £52m. A bid for Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford is also ongoing, and that one looks like it will end positively.
Alexander Isak, moreover, is set to remain at St. James' Park. Even so, Howe wants a new centre-forward, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike confirmed to be on the radar.
However, it's going to be a difficult deal to pull off, and an alternative option has been earmarked.
Newcastle chasing a new striker
Any interest in a centre-forward on Tyneside is laced with a measure of trepidation. Newcastle fans would love to see a new number nine welcomed to the fold, but not at the expense of Isak's place in the team.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak celebrates scoring their first goal-2
Luckily, PIF have no plans to sell their £200m-valued talisman. With Callum Wilson having departed St. James' Park at the end of his contract, securing a new nine is a necessity, not a luxury.
Ekitike might be at the top of the shopping list right now, but he's simply too expensive at £85m, a valuation Eintracht Frankfurt aren't willing to budge on.
That's why Newcastle are setting their sights on Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins. According to Caught Offside, the Magpies have joined the growing list of clubs - also containing Arsenal and Manchester United - who are interested in the England star.
Ollie-Watkins-1
Naturally, Villa don't want to sell, but they have priced the 29-year-old at £50m, and if Newcastle were to table such an offer, they might just find themselves in an interesting position.
Why Newcastle want Ollie Watkins
Consistently one of the Premier League's most dangerous forwards over the past few years, Watkins would bring experience and dynamism to a Newcastle side in need of just his profile.
Ollie-Watkins-Maatsen
Principally a central striker, Watkins' high-energy running and ability to play through the lines have seen him deployed on the left flank in Unai Emery's Villan system. This is perfect for Howe, who likes to shuffle his offensive pack.
The 22-year-old Ekitike scored 22 goals and assisted 12 more across all competitions last season, but he's still an uncut gem, only really having displayed the full extent of his quality across one campaign at the highest level.
Watkins, conversely, is proven across five years in ostensibly the toughest league in the world.
Ollie Watkins' Premier League Career by Season
Season
24/25
23/24
22/23
21/22
20/21
Data via Sofascore
The Three Lions star has even been described by podcaster Rohan Jivan as "one of the best centre-forwards in Europe", with his completeness and experience at the highest level exactly what Newcastle need to one-up their previous campaign.
It's not going to be easy, for sure, but the Toon are now shaping into one of the recognised big hitters in the Premier League, fixed at the top end of the table.
Ekitike is undoubtedly one of the biggest talents in the business, but given his extortionate pricing and indeed the chances that he might not immediately acclimatise to the English game, bagging Watkins to provide instantaneous results might be the best course of action for Howe's ambitious plans.
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Newcastle are looking to strengthen at the back this summer