United's summer was dominated by Isak but their transfer business is starting to pay off
Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United (12) clears the ball ahead of Erling Haaland of Manchester City
Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United clears the ball ahead of Erling Haaland of Manchester City
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Newcastle United enjoyed an 'exceptional' summer transfer window despite the trials of the Alexander Isak situation - and could even have come off better from that bruisng saga.
The Magpies' plans were thrown into disarray when Isak effectively went on strike in an attempt to engineer a move to Liverpool, a deal which finally went through just before deadline day as an £130m agreement was struck.
It meant United have to act quickly when it came to striker replacements, and although Yoane Wissa is yet to play following a £55m move from Brentford thanks to a knee injury, club record signing Nick Woltemade has been an instant success.
The 23-year--old German took the Premier League by storm in his first month in English football, and although the goals have dried up a little, he is still heavily involved in United's attacking style, helping to set up Harvey Barnes' winner against Manchester City on Saturday night.
By contrast, Isak has only scored once for Liverpool, in a Carbao Cup win over Championship side Southampton, and has now lost in each of his four Premier League starts for Arne Slot's men.
Woltemade has 10 in all competitions, including three for Germany, and former Liverpool, West Ham and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison feels he has been a hugely successful signing.
Hutchison also picked out Woltemade's international team-mate Malick Thiaw for praise, with the defender again showing his class by helping to mute the threat of Erling Haaland on Saturday.
"The long term will tell us. I mean, Isak's been injured so it's hard to really measure him," Hutchison told www.sportscasting.com.
"But I think when you look at it, I think Newcastle's window overall has actually been an exceptional window.
"If Wissa had been fit. It was Woltemade. It was Ramsey. It was Elanga. It was Ramsdale in goal.
"Thiaw has been unbelievably good. So the six or seven signings that have come through the door have been exceptional."
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