Newcastle United drew a blank against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, unable to find a breakthrough despite Ezri Konsa being shown a red card for dragging Anthony Gordon to the turf after the hour mark when through on goal.
It's a tired storyline at this point (we apologise), but there was an Alexander Isak-shaped absence at the front of Eddie Howe's system, with the Sweden striker on strike as he pushes to secure a move to Liverpool before the September 1st transfer deadline.
Gordon deputised as Newcastle's number nine, something he has done multiple times in the past, but lacked cutting edge, albeit covering much ground, with Sofascore recording the Three Lions star clocked 9.9km across the contest.
Tielemans-Gordon-Villa-Newcastle
There's much to look forward to for those of a Magpies persuasion this season, even with the acknowledgement that the summer transfer window has drained the water from the crest of a wave the club rode from the 2024/25 season.
But Gordon is not an out-and-out striker; his best qualities lie elsewhere. For that reason, it's crucial that Howe solves this quandary in the next two weeks.
Newcastle's ongoing transfer plans
Newcastle have been frustrated in their bid to sign Brentford's Yoane Wissa, who had removed himself from first-team training in the hopes of signing for the St. James' Park side. It offers a stark parallel to Isak's situation.
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Yoane Wissa
The noise around a potential move for Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson seems to have been drowned out in recent days, although rumours are mounting regarding a deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, who already has two goals for Luis Enrique's side this season.
With Callum Wilson having left the club at the end of his contract last term, it's clear that signings are still needed up front - even if Isak ends up staying - else the Tynesiders could be blighted in their pursuit of more glory under Howe's wing.
However, Newcastle aren't only looking at the front of the ship. In fact, the club have held talks with one of their Premier League rivals as they weigh up a move for a rising talent at the other end of the field.
Newcastle in talks to sign Premier League prospect
According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are among the growing list of clubs to have made an enquiry to Manchester City regarding the potential transfer of Rico Lewis.
Manchester City's Rico Lewis
Manchester City's Rico Lewis
Lewis, 20, has already been the subject of a formal approach from Nottingham Forest this month, which is believed to have totalled €30m (£26m).
A versatile and technically gifted player, Lewis is held in high regard by Pep Guardiola and his staff, who would like to keep him on the books.
Why Newcastle want to sign Rico Lewis
Newcastle look to have succeeded in their efforts to rebuff summer interest in Tino Livramento, mainly from Manchester City, but that doesn't mean they are against signing someone from Pep Guardiola's brood.
Lewis is a top talent, with Guardiola even remarking back in 2023 that the England U21 international is "one of the best I've ever trained by far."
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A trophy-rich start to life as a professional has seen Lewis, who has featured 95 times for the senior side, foster his natural qualities at the highest level, but it's unlikely he'll earn the minutes he craves across the coming years if he remains at the Etihad Stadium.
However, at Newcastle, he could become a superstar; after all, journalist Antonio Mango has remarked in the past that he's "born to play football."
Lewis - Senior Career (all comps)
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
Data via Transfermarkt
With greater responsibility handed to him by Howe, the ball-playing defender, who is versatile and has played a number of fixtures as a midfielder, could become Newcastle's next version of Gordon, who joined from Everton in January 2023 but had previously been a member of Liverpool's academy, discarded before making gains through his formative years.
Anthony Gordon 2023-24 and 2024-25 stats (timeless)
Against Aston Villa, Newcastle showed themselves to be organised and structured in defence, persistent and tenacious in the press, eager to spark a swift transition. Blunt? Sure, but United remain one of the best-coached teams in the league, with enough talent to surge past the perfunctory opinions of a drop-off after a testing window.
Did Newcastle not struggle for the best market last summer? How did that go? Howe knows what he's doing, all right, and if he signs a youngster like Lewis, also praised for his "exceptional" ability by Guardiola, he could will and guide him toward stardom, as he did with Gordon.
Gordon, indeed, claimed Newcastle's Player of the Year award after the 2023/24 campaign, notching 22 goal contributions across the Premier League campaign and leading journalist Henry Winter to note he's a winger who is "thrilling to watch" and "scares defenders."
Gordon has been such an important part of Newcastle's rise over the past few years, and he stood up and took centre-stage in the absence of Isak on Saturday, underscoring his commitment to the cause.
In Lewis, Howe could land his next protege, one who shares his countryman's tactical fluidity and is rooted in his completeness of style, with Sofascore noting that he completed 91% of his passes in the Premier League while also winning 59% of his ground duels, which is highly impressive for a young talent regularly pitted against the division's finest wingers.
Rico Lewis
There's plenty of competition for his signature, but then that was the case with Gordon too, and Lewis would be wise to recognise the shrewdness in joining Howe's system, with the manager proficient in growing uncut gems into sparkling stars.