It’s never straightforward at Newcastle United, and while there will be lumps and bumps for Matthias Jaissle and his outfit at the start of a nervously exciting new era, there is plenty of reason for optimism.
Newcastle are unbeaten after three games in the Premier League. They meet Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday evening, and have also advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Newcastle have lost most all of their star players this summer, but technical director Ross Wilson deserves a lot of credit for finding and signing some exciting replacements.
However, Jaissle will also be reliant on the redemption of several players who flattered to deceive last season – Yoane Wissa being one of them at No. 9.
The importance of Yoane Wissa’s resurgence
Back then, Wissa was one of the hottest strikers in the Premier League. The casual viewer may not have known his name, but the DR Congo star scored with frightening consistency across four seasons with Brentford. It’s no wonder the Bees demanded Newcastle pay £50m to sign him in 2025.
|
Yoane Wissa’s Premier League Career |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals |
|
26/27 |
2 |
1 + 1 |
|
25/26 |
19 |
1 + 1 |
|
£50m transfer from Brentford to Newcastle |
||
|
24/25 |
35 |
19 + 4 |
|
23/24 |
34 |
12 + 3 |
|
22/23 |
38 |
7 + 3 |
|
21/22 |
30 |
7 + 1 |
Wissa endured a torrid time last season. Injured before he could make his debut, he ended the season with one goal in the Premier League, having missed six big chances besides.
Wissa was never the Magpies’ first choice. Bids for Joao Pedro and Liam Delap earlier in the 2025 transfer window had fallen flat, but the 30-year-old still arrived with a reputation as one of the division’s top goalscorers, capable across the frontline.
Newcastle employed a transfer policy this summer, and it pertained to signing players aged 24 and under. In this, Jaissle’s side are stocked for years of success ahead, though seniority is now expected from those such as Wissa.
He’s made a strong start to his second season on Tyneside. A delicious goal against Tottenham Hotspur followed an assist on the opening-day draw to Liverpool at St. James’ Park.
However, Wissa’s revival could spell the end at Newcastle for another big-money signing who fell by the wayside last season.
The new Isak may never play for Newcastle again
Alexander Isak was a phenomenon at Newcastle, and he’s yet to recover that same level at Liverpool, having forced his way through to Anfield in a record-breaking £125m transfer last summer.
Replacing him was never going to be easy, and Eddie Howe and co failed on that count. Wissa might be finding form, but Nick Woltemade was never able to live up to the club-record £69m price tag.
Woltemade, 24, signed for Juventus on loan last month for the duration of the 2026/27 season. After a bright start in the Premier League last year, he tapered away. The debut-scoring Woltemade didn’t need a transition period, and was lauded by Sky Sports analysts as the dream Isak on Tyneside – but finding such a ready-made replacement, just like that, proved a pipe dream, with the German international drifting after that fast start.
The 6 foot 6 striker’s deft and multi-functional take on the striker’s craft quickly endeared him to the Newcastle persuasion. That penalty also confirmed to observers that he knows how to strike a ball.
Woltemade just didn’t shoot enough in the Premier League. Last season, the former Stuttgart striker’s conversion rate stood at an impressive 25% but he hit the target 0.4 times a game on average, and four of his eight goals arrived before Halloween.
Woltemade may make a positive impression at Juventus. Godspeed to him. But Serie A sides are notrious in their resistance against obligatory purchase clauses written into loan spells, and it would take a special season indeed for the Old Lady to pay ther big bucks.
Woltemade looked like he might have been the new Isak at Newcastle. In some ways, he was: record-breaking signing, among the most promising and unique goalscorers out there.
But it hasn’t worked out, and Jaissle’s willingness to ship him right out following previous struggles with Howe makes a strong comment on his future at the club – especially as Wissa finds form.