Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
MATTHIAS JAISSLE has strongly hinted that Newcastle United will bring in another forward before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.
Newcastle are anticipating a busy end to the month, with the purchase of an additional central midfielder a long-standing priority. The club’s recruitment team are also looking to bring in a versatile defender who can provide left-back cover for Lewis Hall.
Signing a new forward is a third key ambition, with yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool having underlined how light the club’s attacking resources currently are, with major question marks over the future of club-record signing Nick Woltemade.
Will Osula started superbly yesterday, but was hobbling from an early stage of proceedings after a collision with Virgil van Dijk. Jaissle held off from replacing Osula for as long as possible, but when he eventually decided enough was enough, he moved Yoane Wissa into the ‘number nine’ role and kept Woltemade on the bench, where he finished the game as an unused substitute.
Woltemade does not appear to be ideally suited to the high-intensity, high-pressing game Jaissle regards as his trademark, but if the German is only going to be used sparingly this season, Newcastle could do with an alternative to Osula that does not take Wissa out of the ‘number ten’ role he is increasingly making his own.
“That’s right,” said a smiling Jaissle, when asked whether Osula’s injury highlighted the potential need for a new forward. “I have thought about it. We will see what happens. There are seven days left [of the transfer window] approximately.”
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Newcastle’s recruitment team are ready to step up their transfer work in the next couple of days, with incomings and outgoings anticipated before Tuesday night’s deadline.
A formal approach for Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez is anticipated, with the Spaniard having been an unused substitute in his side’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth yesterday.
City have agreed an £86m deal to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille and continue to be linked with a possible move for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. Enzo Maresca has deemed Gonzalez to be surplus to requirements, and Newcastle will attempt to complete a deal for around £50m.
The 24-year-old joined City from Porto for a reported fee of £50m in February 2025, having started his career with Barcelona and previously spent time on loan at Valencia. He has made 59 senior appearances for City, scoring four goals.
His arrival could herald the departure of Joe Willock to Besiktas, even though Jaissle has claimed he would like to keep the midfielder, who scored Newcastle’s second goal against Liverpool yesterday less than two minutes after coming onto the field as a substitute.
Besiktas have made a number of inquiries over Willock, who has entered the final year of his current contract on Tyneside, and are hoping to complete a deal for around £10m. It has previously been suggested that Newcastle value Willock at closer to £20m.
“It was the Joe that we wish to see,” said Jaissle, when reflecting on the 27-year-old’s substitute display against Liverpool. “He has already shown during the pre-season, in the last three weeks now, that he has this potential.
“I am so happy that he stepped on the pitch when it was needed and showed it straight away. It was pure commitment from him, although you could go through the whole squad and see that, and that is so important. Would I like to keep him? For sure. With these performances, definitely.”