The summer transfer window has been dominated by Newcastle United’s pursuit of a new number nine.
The Magpies began the season without a recognised centre-forward, and while their performance away at Aston Villa showed flashes of quality, the lack of a natural striker proved costly in front of goal.
At the heart of the situation is Alexander Isak.
The Swedish international has made it clear that he has no intention of reintegrating with Eddie Howe’s squad. Despite being under contract, Isak is not training with the first-team and reiterated in a social media post that broken promises had left both sides with no option but to seek change.
His stance has left Newcastle in a difficult position: they will not sanction his dream move to Liverpool until a replacement has been secured.
That urgency is compounded by the fact that several of their targets have already slipped away.
Benjamin Šeško joined Manchester United, while Wolves are refusing to entertain offers for Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson remains a name of interest, but Aston Villa and Bayern Munich are also interested, further complicating matters.
Newcastle’s recruitment team has been forced to weigh their options carefully.
With four competitions to compete in this season, they cannot afford to gamble on an unproven forward.
Instead, they are searching for a player who can score consistently at Premier League level and immediately shoulder the pressure of leading the line.
England international emerges on Newcastle's radar
According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle “really like” Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
The England international has established himself as one of the division’s most reliable strikers, scoring 16 times in 38 appearances in the Premier League last season.
Villa manager Unai Emery is desperate to keep hold of his talisman, placing a £60m valuation on the 29-year-old, but Newcastle see him as an ideal solution to their striker dilemma.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their first goal
Watkins is not the only forward on their radar.
Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has pushed for a move, even going as far as to remove references to the Bees from his social media accounts before reluctantly returning to training.
The Congolese forward is fresh off the best season of his career, scoring 19 goals in 35 appearances.
However, Brentford’s asking price of £60m, coupled with the fact that Wissa will turn 29 in September and could miss a portion of the 2026 season due to AFCON, makes him a less attractive prospect for Newcastle.
Strand Larsen, meanwhile, also carries a similar price tag.
wolves-premier-league-strand-larsen
Wolves value him at around £60m, which reflects both his strong debut campaign of 14 Premier League goals and his importance following the departure of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.
But with Wolves unwilling to sell, Newcastle may be forced to move on quickly rather than get caught in another prolonged negotiation.
When set against these options, Watkins’ appeal becomes clear.
He is also homegrown, experienced at international level, and has a track record of maintaining fitness and availability - a crucial factor given how many fixtures Newcastle may play this season.
Why Newcastle should sign Ollie Watkins
The numbers help illustrate why Newcastle rate Watkins so highly compared to Wissa and Strand Larsen.
Each enjoyed a strong 2024/25 campaign, but Watkins edges the contest in the areas that matter most to Eddie Howe’s side.
Premier League 2024/25
Goals
Assists
Shots
Pass Completion Rate
Shot Creating Actions
Source: FBref
According to FBref, Watkins registered 24 goal involvements across 38 appearances - a marginal advantage over Wissa (23 in 35) but a clear lead over Strand Larsen (18 in 35). This demonstrates his ability to finish chances, something Newcastle lacked in their draw at Villa Park.
Looking deeper, Watkins’ game reflects a balance of off-the-ball movement and link-up play.
His progressive carries per 90 (1.90) are just ahead of Wissa (1.85) and far superior to Strand Larsen (0.59), underlining his ability to drive the ball forward and stretch defences.
While he lags behind Wissa in progressive passing distance (33.7 per 90 compared to 49.9), he makes up for it with a more well-rounded contribution in and around the penalty area.
The statistics also highlight Watkins’ reliability in front of goal.
His shot-on-target percentage (43.9%) is competitive with Wissa (45.6%) and Strand Larsen (61.1%), but what stands out is his volume: Watkins averaged 1.25 shots on target per 90, ahead of Larsen’s 1.15.
Given Newcastle’s need for a striker who will consistently test goalkeepers, Watkins’ steady output is a strong selling point.
There are other factors working in his favour.
Unlike Wissa, Watkins does not face the prospect of missing time due to AFCON commitments, and unlike Strand Larsen, he does not represent a gamble on a player with just one season in English football.
Instead, he offers Newcastle a forward who has proven he can sustain a high level of performance in one of the league’s most tactically demanding systems under Emery.
Of course, Watkins is not flawless.
His take-on success rate (24.4%) lags behind both Wissa (30.6%) and Strand Larsen (40.0%), suggesting he is less effective when asked to beat defenders one-on-one.
But Newcastle’s system under Howe rarely relies on individual dribbling in advanced positions. Instead, it values runs in behind, pressing from the front, and efficient finishing - all of which Watkins excels at.
Ultimately, the comparison makes the logic behind Newcastle’s interest clear. At £60m, he is an expensive option, yet for a club determined to make a home for themselves in Europe, it may prove the most reliable investment.