Newcastle in ‘better position’ with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade than with Alexander Isak after UEFA Champions League win
Newcastle United were the subject of much of the attention in last summer’s transfer window: would Alexander Isak leave, who would replace him and how would it affect them going forward were just a handful of questions on the minds of Geordies and beyond. Now, with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole claimed Newcastle are actually in a better spot than with Isak last season.
It was the saga of the transfer window: would Alexander Isak leave Newcastle United, and if so, who would replace him?
The Sweden forward, who had become such a pivotal player for Eddie Howe, had made it clear he wanted to leave.
But Newcastle wanted to make sure they brought the right replacements in and were reimbursed properly for losing their star man.
Nick Woltemade came in from Stuttgart, the first of the moves that indicated Isak would leave St James’ Park.
But the Isak saga continued right up until deadline day, when Newcastle struck up a deal with Brentford for Yoane Wissa, who had also made it no secret he wished to move to pastures new.
That saw Wissa head to Newcastle and Isak to Liverpool for a British record fee.
Woltemade scored 12 goals in 28 Bundesliga games for Stuttgart, while Wissa joined injured and has not yet played a minute.
It seemed as though Isak’s departure would leave Newcastle in a difficult position despite their new additions, one of whom was unproven in the Premier League and the other unavailable.
Few could have foreseen just how easily Woltemade would make himself at home in black and white, though, and the German now has four goals in five in the league.
Isak, meanwhile, is yet to score in the Premier league this season.
As Newcastle swept aside Benfica in the UEFA Champions League with a commanding 3-0 win, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole revealed he believes Newcastle are in a better place with Wissa and Woltemade.
“He [Eddie Howe] wouldn’t be pleased with how the start to the season has gone because they have been better, but I think the performances have been there, and I think tonight, he is probably going into that dressing room and thinking, ‘that is us now kicking on’,” Cole said.
“Fulham are coming here at the weekend and that is a good game for them as well. Get another victory. I just think they are going to motor now, from now until Christmas, you will see them do that [rise up the table].
“I think with Wissa when he is back fit, hopefully soon, and Woltemade, they are actually in a better position than with Isak.
“To compete on more fronts, you need players who can come in, and you look at the numbers, they are going to have Gordon, Elanga and all those others. I think they are in a better position.”
Isak scored 27 goals in 42 matches last season for Newcastle in all competitions, including one in the Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool.
If Wissa and Woltemade can equal that tally between them, Howe could be supplied with the tools to once again crack the Premier League top five and look to go deep in the Champions League.
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