Newcastle fans everywhere will be asking the same question: just what is going on with our strikers this season?
In our most recent game, the 1-1 draw against Barcelona at St James’ Park in the Champions League, Eddie Howe left the £124m combined pair of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa on the bench all night in favour of Will Osula.
And it’s unlikely any of the trio would have started if Howe’s preferred choice, non-striker Anthony Gordon, was 100% fit. The fact we have no indisputable, out-and-out striker option available should be a big cause for concern.
With that in mind, it’s a relief to see reports last night claim we WILL bring in another centre-forward this summer, with one domestic option and a highly-rated Italian thought to be of interest.
Following links to Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke earlier this week, The Mail’s Craig Hope reports that Newcastle remain keen on Chelsea’s Liam Delap and have also taken a close look at Inter Milan’s Pio Esposito.
Delap was one of our top targets less than 12 months ago, but he chose to make the switch to Stamford Bridge instead, where he’s often played second fiddle to starting striker Joao Pedro.
Hope reports that it’s not currently clear if Chelsea would sell the former Ipswich man, although he’s thought to be ‘one to keep an eye on’ based on our long-standing interest and his lack of starts.
Thankfully, we’re also looking at options abroad as well, as Hope notes that Inter powerhouse Esposito is a player we’ve been tracking after seeing his stock skyrocket in the Serie A this season.
Considered one of the club’s top assets, alongside the excellent defender Alessandro Bastoni, it’s expected that it would take a significant amount of money to sign Esposito, who could be out of our budget.
The 20-year-old has three goals in his last five outings for the Italian national team and has seven goals and six assists for Inter, battling Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez for a starting spot.
Liam Delap scores his first Premier League goal for Chelsea to equalise vs Fulham - Football | Tribuna.com
It’s difficult to fathom, but neither a Premier League-proven striker in Wissa, nor the German National Team’s no.9, being able to thrive (or fit in) as our striker is the unfortunate reality we live in.
Whilst the future of Will Osula and Anthony Gordon certainly isn’t guaranteed beyond this summer, as they continue to be courted by Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal respectively, the addition of a new striker will be a telling sign that neither Wissa or Woltemade’s positions are safe.
Unless Wissa suddenly starts firing or looking fit, and Woltemade receives regular minutes in a position that allows him to thrive, then rumours will unfortunately continue to swirl surrounding their immediate futures.
It’s potential suitors for both players that are difficult to pinpoint as well: you would tip Woltemade to be the Harry Kane replacement at Bayern Munich, but an ageing Wissa seems bound for Saudi Arabia or Turkey if we want to stand any chance of recouping much of his £55m deadline day transfer fee.