Alan Shearer names two strikers Newcastle should now sign & reveals Sesko doubts
The Premier League campaign kicks off in just over a week, and barring a minor miracle, Newcastle United won’t have Alexander Isak or a new striker ready to play at Aston Villa.
Isak is still seeking his move away to Liverpool, Will Osula and Sean Neave have yet to find the back of net in pre-season, and Anthony Gordon playing down the middle isn't using the winger to his best abilities.
With £70m Benjamin Sesko now set to move to Manchester United, the number of strikers we could potentially sign is slowly dwindling, so we'll have to act fast with the season coming soon and the window shutting in just over three weeks time.
Alan Shearer has stepped and given his recommendations as to who he thinks we should sign, particularly if we want to try and match Isak's goalscoring output from last season in anticipation of a departure.
Who would Alan Shearer sign for Newcastle?
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer believes that the club needs to make two signings this summer to properly replace Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.
With similar thinking to Eddie Howe, Shearer has named the Premier League-proven duo of Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Yoane Wissa (Brentford) as his preferred attacking options.
"If Newcastle were to get Yoane Wissa and Ollie Watkins, I think that would be two really good signings but I don't think Aston Villa and Brentford fans would appreciate me talking about their players like we are.
"If those deals could be done, it'd be a huge plus for Newcastle and they need it. Even if Isak stays, they still need another centre-forward because they've lost Callum Wilson.”
In his praise for the pair, Shearer expressed some slight skepticism over if Sesko was the right choice this summer, believing that more polished players are needed if we want to compete across all competitions next season.
"I've seen Sesko in the Champions League and I know he's very young but he is raw. There's definitely talent there but he's in no way the finished article and will have to improve a lot. I'd say the same if he came to Newcastle. Whereas Wissa and Watkins know the Premier League and are proven in the Premier League."
Two difficult deals to get done
If this summer has proven anything, it's that we've faced immense difficulty in getting almost any deal done.
And we should expect more of the same if we continue any pursuit for both Watkins and Wissa.
"The Wissa situation sounds very similar to the Isak situation where they're both pushing for a move to get what they want."
"Ollie Watkins has been heavily linked with other clubs - Man United being one of them. Whether a deal between Newcastle and Aston Villa could be done, I don't know.
"I am an admirer of Ollie, but I suspect the Aston Villa fans and the manager won't appreciate me and other people talking about their centre-forward going to different clubs."
Watkins is of course not the only Villa player we've been linked with, as John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey were both named in The Mail recently as players on our radar. But it would come as no surprise if the last thing Villa would want to do would be selling to a top five rival.
"It's a merry-go-round at the minute. When you look at the chasing pack, with the business and astronomical fees that have been paid out by the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, when you look at the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton and others, that's how difficult it's going to be to break into the top four. This merry-go-round will continue until the end of the window."
