Oihan Sancet could emerge as a great target for Newcastle United in January.placeholder image
Oihan Sancet could emerge as a great target for Newcastle United in January. | Getty Images
Newcastle United are interested in signing a 15-goal star from one of their Champions League opponents
The 2025 summer transfer window has come to an end, meaning Newcastle United fans can finally catch their breath after a roller coaster window which has been full of highs, lows, transfer hijacks and everything in between.
In the end, Alexander Isak waved goodbye to St. James’ Park to complete his British record £130m move to Liverpool. The club had done everything it could to keep their Swedish talisman in the North East but in the end this one had a feeling of inevitability to it from the moment that Isak refused to turn up to the club’s pre-season training tour, while also travelling to Real Sociedad’s training ground without giving anyone at the club any indication of his desire to do so.
Newcastle took their time to replace him and also Callum Wilson, who departed in a much more dignified manner to West Ham United on a free transfer. In the end, they signed two potentially top-class strikers in the form of Nick Woltemade from Bundesliga side Stuttgart for a club-record £69m as well as the more tried and tested Yoane Wissa, who has already proved he can score goals in the Premier League with Brentford.
It marks the end of a summer transfer window, which is perhaps the hardest to judge of any club in the league. On the one hand, they’ve lost arguably their most talented striker since Alan Shearer, On the other, they’ve upgraded their depth in almost all areas of the pitch and enter September with a stronger squad than they had this time 12 months ago but perhaps not quite as great a starting XI.
For now the rumour mill is likely to be on the back burner for most football fans, but the scouting side of the operation never really stops, and there’s no doubt that Newcastle after more than doubling their money on Isak in the space of three years, will be in a much healthier position in terms of PSR and will likely be able to go again with some shrewd winter deals in January if the right opportunity arises.
Who should Newcastle United sign in January?
Newcastle United have added depth throughout the pitch in the summer, which has slightly gone under the radar amid the dark shadow surrounding the club during the Isak saga. The Toon are blessed with one of the best and most robust midfield trios in the country in the form of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, while they’ve cleverly taken advantage of Aston Villa’s PSR situation to bring in Jacob Ramsey, who offers a greater attacking threat than the departing Sean Longstaff.
However, there’s still a significant gulf between Newcastle’s preferred midfield trio and their backup options which perhaps needs to be rectified if the Magpies are to make a serious challenge for the biggest competitions, including the Premier League and the Champions League, which remains the club’s long-term goal after they broke their 70-year duck by winning the Carabao Cup last summer.
One profile they particularly lack is a midfielder that can regularly get on the scoresheet, with none of Tonali, Guimaraes or Joelinton ever getting into double figures for season goals at any stage in their career.
Oihan Sancet could be a great fit for Newcastle United
To take the next step and really compete for the title, Newcastle may need a proven midfield technician that can create plenty of chances for those around him and add to what already is an exceptionally well-rounded and workman-like midfield. Oihan Sancet could fit the bill perfectly and be a real useful addition given Joelinton’s recent injury record. He’s a 25-year-old Spain international with 195 appearances for Athletic Bilbao, 43 goals and 18 assists.
Sancet has been capped four times for Spain and has already won silverware in his career by helping Bilbao win the Copa del Rey two seasons ago against Real Mallorca, while notably scoring in the final as his team triumphed on penalties. He was the highest scoring midfielder in La Liga over the course of last season with 15 league goals from 29 appearances, five higher than second best Mauro Arambarri of Getafe.
Continue Reading