Newcastle United’s forward line is entering a period of transition.
With Alexander Isak’s future still unresolved - and the striker making it abundantly clear that he will not reintegrate into the squad should a transfer not be completed before the deadline - Eddie Howe faces a pressing challenge.
He must find a centre-forward capable of stepping straight into the side and producing from the very first game.
The departure of Callum Wilson to West Ham has only heightened the urgency.
The 33-year-old leaves St James’ Park with 47 goals in 113 appearances - his intelligent movement and clinical edge cementing him as a fan favourite.
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson
Many of his goals came in crucial moments, helping drag Newcastle away from the relegation zone in the early days of the takeover.
But with a Champions League campaign on the horizon and Premier League rivals reinforcing aggressively, Newcastle cannot afford to go into the new season light in the most important position on the pitch.
Newcastle Isak replacements
Newcastle's latest striker target
The Magpies have been proactive in other areas - they have added Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale to provide depth. Yet despite these moves, the focus remains firmly on replacing goals at the top of the pitch.
Aaron-Ramsdale-Newcastle
Yet despite these moves, the focus remains firmly on replacing goals at the top of the pitch.
One forward in particular could reshape Newcastle’s attack and keep their ambitions alive in a World Cup year.
Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, Ollie Watkins’ situation at Aston Villa is attracting significant interest from the Geordies.
Villa have been active in the market themselves, reviving talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a possible return for Marco Asensio after a successful loan spell last season.
Asensio has already rejected moves to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but Villa are keen to bolster their attacking options amid uncertainty over Watkins and fellow forward Leon Bailey.
Manchester United had previously been linked with Watkins before turning their attention to Benjamin Šeško, leaving Newcastle among the clubs still firmly monitoring developments.
Villa have added striker Evann Guessand to their ranks, yet with the club still facing pressure from PSR - a significant sale remains possible.
Watkins, with a market value of £50m, would represent both a lucrative cash injection for Villa and a major coup for any buying club.
Watkins vs. Wilson: The numbers game
At 29, Watkins is in his prime.
Since joining Villa from Brentford in 2020 for £28m, he has scored 75 goals in 184 appearances, cementing his status as one of the league’s most consistent scorers.
His 18 caps for England underline his pedigree at international level, while his relentless work rate, intelligent movement, and adaptability make him a constant threat.
FFC in-text wider Watkins
Described as “one of best 9s in the world” by Statman Dave, Watkins is as comfortable leading the line as he is drifting wide or dropping deep to link play.
The parallels with Wilson’s arrival at Newcastle in 2020 are clear: both were established Premier League strikers, both brought a proven eye for goal, and both had the hunger to push for England recognition.
callum-wilson-newcastle-united
However, Watkins offers something subtly different - a more rounded style that blends scoring with creativity and builds up involvement.
In a season where every England striker will be scrutinised ahead of the World Cup, Watkins has added motivation to start strongly.
While Wilson’s Newcastle legacy is built on ruthless penalty-box efficiency, the numbers reveal that Watkins brings a broader attacking contribution.
Comparing Wilson’s 2022/23 campaign to Watkins’ 2024/25 season provides a detailed picture of their respective styles.
According to FBref, the two are almost inseparable in terms of output. Wilson contributed 23 goal involvements, Watkins 24. Wilson took more shots per 90 minutes (3.36 to 2.84), converting at a near-identical rate in terms of accuracy (44.3% to Watkins’ 43.9%).
Ollie Watkins stats (timeless)
For penalty-box poaching, Wilson remains among the league’s most effective. However, Watkins’ strengths lie in his involvement outside the box. He averages 10.6 completed passes per 90 to Wilson’s 7.66 and does so with a higher completion rate (72.4% vs. 66.1%).
His progressive passing distance is markedly higher, and his progressive carries (1.90 to 1.29) show a greater willingness to run at defences and advance play from deeper positions.
Watkins also edges progressive passes per 90 (1.07 to 0.91), suggesting he can help initiate attacks as well as finish them.
Wilson, by contrast, holds the advantage in dribbling success - 0.57 take-ons per 90 at a 33.3% success rate versus Watkins’ 0.35 at 24.4%.
This reflects Wilson’s more direct, decisive style when taking on defenders in the final third.
The data ultimately points to two different types of centre-forward.
Wilson is the penalty-box predator, lethal with limited touches.
Watkins is the link-man as well as the finisher, able to knit together moves, drag defenders into wide areas, and exploit space with his pace and timing.
For Howe, that broader range of skills could be invaluable in a Newcastle side that increasingly dominates possession and faces low defensive blocks.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates
With Wilson now in claret and blue at West Ham and Isak’s future unresolved, Newcastle’s pursuit of Watkins represents more than a simple like-for-like replacement.
It is an opportunity to evolve their attacking profile, to bring in a forward who can both replicate Wilson’s goals and add fresh dimensions to their build-up play.
In a World Cup year, with competition for England places, Watkins’ hunger to impress could be exactly the edge Newcastle need, and exactly why Howe might be tempted to make him the next No 9 to lead the line at St James’ Park.