It's probably fair to say Newcastle United fans expected their club's transfer window to have gone a little differently, but the undertone across the off-season period has been one of disappointment and frustration.
Eddie Howe's trophy-winning outfit, after all, proved themselves to be capable of permanently shattering the 'big six' hegemony in the Premier League, having now qualified for the Champions League across two of the past three seasons, winning the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool in March to boot.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match-1
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the match
But more is needed, and no mistake. Anthony Elanga adds an injection of pace down the right flank, making 23 sprints on his debut against Aston Villa on Saturday, clocking a top speed of 32.7km, as per Sofascore, making him the second-fastest player on the pitch, only behind his electric teammate Anthony Gordon.
anthony-gordon-newcastle-premier-league
However, Alexander Isak was glaringly absent at centre-forward as the interminable saga rumbles on for the Liverpool-linked star. It needs sorting, but Newcastle would be ignorant to keep 100% of their focus on number nine with other areas in need of redress.
Luckily, they haven't, with Jacob Ramsey marking an astute piece of business.
Why Newcastle signed Jacob Ramsey
Having signed Ramsey from Aston Villa for an initial £39m fee at the weekend, Newcastle have now signed across the park; Malick Thiaw had strengthened the defence, while loanee Aaron Ramsdale adds quality and depth between the sticks and the aforementioned Elanga blistering pace to the right flank.
The English attacking midfielder cited Howe's "track record of developing players" as one of the key reasons behind his move to St. James' Park, and indeed, the player's quality and industriousness suggests he could dovetail right into the squad's make-up.
With Sean Longstaff having left for Leeds United earlier in the window, Ramsey adds crucial depth but also dynamism to the central ranks, easing the burden on Howe's trusted midfield triumvirate.
jacob-ramsey-aston-villa-premier-league
Jacob Ramsey in action for Aston Villa.
The 24-year-old's creativity and energy could prove invaluable if given rise within Howe's tactical remit. The manager's track record, indeed, bespeaks the reasoning behind completing the signing, and it might end up proving a blinder, should Ramsey find himself combining with Newcastle's top attacking transfer target.
Newcastle resume talks for Premier League forward
According to the reliable Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle resumed talks with Brentford on Monday as they look to complete a deal for Yoane Wissa.
yoane-wissa-premier-league-brentford
Despite recent reports suggesting that the Bees have raised their asking price for the 28-year-old striker from £50m to £60m, the Magpies remain focused on getting a move over the line.
However, there is little intention of forking out £50m for the DR Congo international, let alone paying north of that. Hope believes the hours ahead will be crucial in how this saga plays out.
What Yoane Wissa would bring to Newcastle
Of course, there is an elephant in the room in that failure to sign Wissa would reduce the chances of losing Isak significantly, but it's hard to envisage a repaired relationship with the wantaway Sweden star, who has no intention of accepting reintegration.
And Wissa is a proven Premier League star sure to bring goals to a fluent Magpies side in need of a clinical outlet.
Wissa season in numbers 2024-25 (timeless)
Hailed for his "sensational" finishing by Sky Sports' Mark McAdam, Wissa notched 20 goals for Brentford last season, including 19 in the Premier League.
Curiously, he only scored ten of his 19 top-flight goals with his preferred right foot, also bagging five with his left and a further four goals with his head, bespeaking an aerial presence that the likes of Gordon and Elanga would relish.
And Ramsey would pounce at the chance of playing with Wissa too.
Jacob-Ramsey-Newcastle
Ramsey's versatility makes him an easy sell for a suitor like Newastle, for he is efficient out on the left too. He notched 17 goals and 19 assists for the Villans, and though struggling through injuries over the past few years, showcased his talents in 2022/23, hitting 13 goal involvements across that Premier League season as a promising up-and-comer.
The energetic approach lends itself to Howe's focus on sharp transitional play, and with someone like Wissa as the focal point to finish off these slick moves, there's every chance Newcastle will be able to match last season's success in reclaiming their place in the Champions League.
Below, you will see Ramsey ploughing through West Ham United's defence to score a well-worked goal for Aston Villa.
Utilising Wissa's hold-up play, this could become a frequent and productive combination for Newcastle, especially as data-driven platform FBref revealed the Brentford star produced tactically similar results to Isak last year, both clinical and effective on the ball, crisp with his passing.
Similarly, Ramsey is more than capable of returning the favour, having registered five Premier League assists last year despite only starting 19 matches. Sofascore record that he completed 87% of his passes and created five big chances besides.
Having also won 59% of his ground duels, Ramsey embodies what it means to be a top-performing star in a Howe system, and if careful management of minutes ensures an avoidance of injury setbacks, the Englishman could become a star, linking up with Wissa to redefine Newcastle's frontline while maintaining a semblance of continuity from the successful attack of recent years.
Ramsey
And Wissa? The experienced talisman comes with the assurance of goals and the promise of fluent performances. He forged an iconic partnership with Bryan Mbeumo at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Thomas Frank even describing the partnership as being "unplayable" at times.
Though the 2024/25 campaign stands out as the magnum opus of Wissa's career thus far, the best may still be to come if he completes a move to Newcastle in the coming weeks.
yoane-wissa-brentford
Yoane Wissa for Brentford.
Howe has spun a web of players all bearing different qualities, yet a sense of coherence in their tactical intelligence, and their dynamic, athletic approach to their play.
With Wissa stepping in to replace, potentially, Isak as the spearhead, there's every chance that this coming year could be one of even more illustrious success.