Newcastle United are on the hunt for a striker this summer
Benjamin Sesko celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between Slovenia and Kazakhstan
Anthony Elanga's Newcastle United switch has seen the Magpies switch their focus to the next stage of the summer transfer window - and a Callum Wilson replacement appears next on the shopping list.
This week brought news Newcastle had made their first move for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, three years on from the first attempting to bring him to Tyneside.
The move will not be an easy one to pull off and United have already seen their opening offer rebuffed in Germany.
There are a number of moving parts to the transfer pursuit, such as Alexander Isak's own future at St James' Park, significant interest in Ekitike's signature and the fact his Frankfurt release clause sits at €100m [£86m]. As such, Newcastle may be forced to seek alternatives as the window progresses.
Finding a forward who can come in to rival with Isak is no easy task. Of late, Eddie Howe's side have missed out on such targets, including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jonathan David.
Meanwhile, once realistic options, such as Victor Osimhen, is Galatasaray-bound, Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade is Bayern Munich's main target and Viktor Gyokeres is heading to Arsenal.
The departing Sporting striker is an interesting case. Despite his international exploits alongside Isak for Sweden, Newcastle were never in the hunt for Gyokeres' signature this summer.
Before the window kicked into action, it was very much thought that the Swedish duo, Ekitike and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko were the four most sought-after strikers in Europe this summer.
Newcastle were extremely interest in the latter before his Bundesliga switch in 2023, with the attacker's agent even travelling to Tyneside to discuss a potential deal. Sesko's stock has continued to rise ever since, bringing interest from some of Europe's top clubs.
if Newcastle are prepared to splash out a club-record outlay for Ekitike, Sesko would likely rank among the most likely alternatives should a deal for the Frenchman fail to materialise.
At a similar price point, Porto's Samu Aghehowa has plenty of admirers on the continent. The Portuguese outfit are also chasing £86m for his signature and the 21-year-old is being touted as a potential Ollie Watkins replacements should he leave Aston Villa.
Closer to home, Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Brentford's Yoane Wissa. The Bees are attempting to keep hold of their prized assets but have been gutted so far this summer, losing Thomas Frank from the dugout, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and fighting to squeeze every last penny out of Manchester United for Bryan Mbeumo.
Wissa is valued at around £50m and is slightly older than the type of profile Newcastle have targeted so far this summer.
On that topic, one deal that looks unlikely at this stage is a deal for Villa's Watkins. The 29-year-old continues to be touted with a Midlands departure - and has been linked with Newcastle - but at 29, again, represents a much older alternative to Ekitike.
Villa are also demanding absolute top dollar for their star striker, who will want assurances over game time if he is to make a move this summer. Watkins has also been linked with Liverpool in recent days.