Newcastle United are unprepared for the 2026/27 Premier League season, but in fairness, it’s a sentiment shared by many of the division’s denizens, and Matthias Jaissle has brought an optimistic outlook at the start of his tenure.
The German tactician, 38, steps into significant boots in replacing Eddie Howe, but he’s sure of himself, this one, and brings a proactive and progressive brand of football that carries within it a hint of the gegenpressing that so many German coaches develop.
But he needs further signings. He needs creativity and an edge in attack. Much has been made of Newcastle’s lack of options in midfield, but the crop of forwards on Tyneside lack something that was taken when Anthony Gordon signed for Barcelona for £69m in June.
Why Newcastle still haven’t replaced Gordon
Newcastle have struggled to land their targets this summer, but they were delighted to wrap up a £43m move for Bazoumana Toure ahead of pre-season, the former Hoffenheim winger having been described as “one of the most exciting young wingers in European football” by journalist Bence Bocsak.
Fleet-footed and electric on the ball, Toure, 20 years old, established himself as one of German football’s most creative wingers last season, and though he has the profile to stand in as Gordon’s long-term replacement, he might not produce the same kind of focal effect
At face value, the Ivory Coast international has played at a higher level than Gordon over the past year. However, the Premier League so often proves a different ballpark to the Bundesliga, among other divisions, and Toure will need a period adaptation, especially with Newcastle at a low ebb.
|
League Form (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Toure |
Gordon |
|
Matches (starts) |
30 (29) |
26 (24) |
|
Goals |
5 |
6 |
|
Assists |
9 |
2 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
1.6 (0.4) |
1.8 (0.8) |
|
Big chances missed |
3 |
9 |
|
Accurate passes* |
16.8 (76%) |
16.3 (82%) |
|
Big chances created |
11 |
5 |
|
Key passes* |
1.5 |
1.0 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
1.6 |
1.3 |
|
Recoveries* |
4.2 |
2.2 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
1.3 |
0.8 |
|
Duels won* |
5.1 |
3.8 |
With Alexander Isak sold to Liverpool for a record-breaking amount the year before, Newcastle need to bring some more quality to the club, a difference-maker who could help steer the outfit forward, back onto higher ground.
Newcastle have held talks to sign the new Gordon
When Gordon arrived in Newcastle, he was a young and plucky prospect who dug down and developed into one of the most high-profile wingers in English football.
Now, Newcastle are interested in signing a player with a few similarities in Arsenal’s £55m-rated attacker Ethan Nwaneri. That’s according to Football Insider, who have revealed that discussions have already taken place this summer, though any move will only be a loan.
Already accomplished on the major stage, Nwaneri, only 18 years old, has shown potential across a range of positions. He has the world at his feet, and they are dancing feet at that, his technically gifted skillset and willingness, need, to make things happen and take centre-stage indeed suggesting that he could fill a Gordon-shaped hole on Tyneside.
Across only 51 senior appearances for Arsenal, Nwaneri has scored ten goals and supplied two assists. He is unquestionably one of the brightest young prospects in the Premier League, with pundit Joe Cole going as far as to say that he’s “the most exciting footballer in England and maybe Europe“.
|
Ethan Nwaneri – Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Attacking midfield |
58 |
21 + 7 |
|
Right winger |
25 |
7 + 2 |
|
Centre-forward |
9 |
10 + 2 |
|
Left winger |
1 |
0 + 1 |
There is a sort of age-belying confidence about Nwaneri, hailed as a “phenomenal” prospect by pundit Stephen Warnock. You get the sense that he would be ready to take on a talismanic role at Newcastle, should they call upon him this season.
After a brief loan with Marseille from January onwards last term, Nwaneri’s short-term future might be better placed in the Premier League, where he can continue to learn the ropes and help this Newcastle team toward resurgence.
In as far as technical profile is concerned, Nwaneri is not cut from the same cloth as Gordon, but he would arrive young and with a weight of expectation. The circumstances may differ, but Arsenal’s starboy has the potential to match his countryman’s talismanic influence, pulling strings and standing tall behind the centre-forward.
His loan spell at Marseille left something to be desired. At Newcastle, the teenager may find more fertile soil from which he can grow into a superstar.
Whether Jaissle would opt to use him as a No. 10, creating play behind Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa, or instead as a right-sided forward, bringing vim and vigour down the flank, remains to be seen.
But there’s no question Nwaneri could finish his loan spell as one of the stars of the show.