Newcastle move on in search for top right winger - but who will sign after Olise blow?

Michael Olise may have been a dream signing this summer in our search for a new right winger, but it was always going to be an incredibly tough deal to pull off. And so it proved.

The Crystal Palace star is set for Bayern Munich, meaning Newcastle must move on in their pursuit of a Miguel Almiron upgrade. Yankuba Minteh’s sale also increases the need to get this signing right, with the Gambian considered an exciting player in the very position we need to strengthen.

So, who could we now turn to? Who has been linked? Who makes sense and which names may emerge who are yet to be mentioned?

Wolves’ Pedro Neto is an interesting one. He’s thought to be eyeing a summer move, he’s 24, has so much talent and is a left-footed right winger who could play down either flank. But he’s reportedly valued at around £50-60m; a huge fee given his history with hamstring injuries last season. There’s interest from Newcastle, but will we take the risk?

Then there’s Jarrod Bowen. He’s not a risk in terms of his goalscoring record and constant availability – he’s very rarely injured –  but he’s also thought to be settled at West Ham. They’d demand huge money and he is 27, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we pursued a slightly younger option with the potential to be just as good.

That brings me to Bryan Mbeumo. He ticks so many boxes as a 24-year-old who offers pace, versatility – he performed well up front in Ivan Toney’s absence – intelligent movement, proven quality in the Premier League (15 goal involvements last season in just 26 outings) and the potential to get even better under Eddie Howe.

PSV’s Johan Bakayoko looks a huge talent made for the Premier League, although we may see it as a big risk if our most important summer signing comes from the Eredivisie. I wouldn’t rule out links with Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski – an international teammate of Alexander Isak’s – and Noni Madueke is thought to be on our list of options. If Chelsea sign another winger that puts his game time at risk, he could well leave despite a superb end to the 2023/24 campaign.

Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams is an intriguing one. It was reportedly a toss up between him and Anthony Gordon 18 months ago after extensive scouting from Newcastle. Since then, he’s taken his game to new heights and has a €50m (£42m) clause in his contract. He can play down both flanks, has pace to burn and is only 21, but his displays at Euro 2024 with Spain have top clubs queuing up. It’s thought he’s also on massive wages at Bilbao and prefers to stay in Spain, with Barcelona the favourites to land him. 

That brings me onto Barca’s Raphinha, who would be an incredible signing and has been linked before. He's got a quality left foot, trickery, works hard for the team and has unfinished business in the Premier League after that spell at Leeds, but it would take big money for a 27-year-old, posing a similar dilemma to Bowen.

Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville has been discussed in recruitment meetings, according to The Athletic, but I do wonder if a right-footed winger who predominantly plays on the left is the answer down our right. I'd be very surprised if he signed.

As a side note, Morgan Gibbs-White may be one to keep an eye on. He ticks plenty boxes for Howe as a versatile attacker with plenty of potential, energy and fight, coupled with the fact Forest must sell for PSR reasons, although I’m not entirely sure where he’d fit as a right-footed attacking midfielder.

Who would you like to see us bring in?