With a fortnight to go until we kick off our Premier League season against Aston Villa, we’re still unsure as to who will be our starting striker at Villa Park.
Alexander Isak is still pushing for a move to Liverpool, but is now set to return to Tyneside to resume his pre-season training.
The pair of Benjamin Sesko and Yoane Wissa remain in the mix, with neither player appearing in recent pre-season friendlies for their respective sides.
It’s a question we desperately need an answer to, and it looks like we may soon get what we want…
According to [The Mail’s](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14965231/Liverpool-return-British-record-bid-Alexander-Isak-Newcastle-secure-replacement-prolific-striker-Swede-returns-Tyneside.html) Craig Hope, Liverpool are going nowhere as Newcastle United now anticipate a second bid for Alexander Isak.
Arne Slot’s side sent a strange low ball offer of £110m on Friday, which was promptly rejected on Tyneside before reports followed stating the Reds would not be returning with another offer.
However, Hope claims Liverpool will be back with a ‘British-record’ bid for the Swede that will be sent Newcastle’s way if Toon chiefs manage to land a top-quality replacement – or two.
Which brings us to RB Leipzig’s **Benjamin Sesko** and Brentford’s **Yoane Wissa**, the two names Newcastle are pushing to sign BEFORE they contemplate accepting any much-improved bid for Isak.
Hope reports that we are awaiting Sesko’s final decision after making a big move for the 22-year-old over the past 24 hours, with a package worth just shy of £75m sent Leipzig’s way in a bid to beat Man Utd to his signing.
Alongside the Slovenian, it’s believed Newcastle are confident that Wissa will eventually arrive at St James’ Park and get his wish after he – like Sesko vs Atalanta – played no part in today’s pre-season friendly against QPR.
Newcastle believe a deal will be done for the DR Congo star once the Bees land a replacement, with a £70m move for Sesko hoping to be followed by a £30m deal for 28-year-old Wissa should the dominos fall in our favour.
Things look to be quickly progressing on all fronts, and as much as Howe insisted he wanted Isak to remain with us for next season, the latest developments do seem to hint that he’s more likely leaving rather than staying should we get deal done first on our side.