Global Edition
Global Edition
UK Edition
EU Edition
US Edition

Understand the story, not the spin.

Markets

Newcastle's Attack Falters After Isak's £125M Exit

Published 12 March 2026

Newcastle United's attacking line has faltered this season following the departure of star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British-record fee of around 125 million pounds last summer. The club invested heavily to rebuild, spending approximately 124 million pounds on forwards Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, yet both players have underperformed, contributing to inconsistent results and prompting manager Eddie Howe to consider further changes ahead of the next transfer window.

Isak's exit left a significant void in Newcastle's forward ranks, forcing the team to act quickly. They secured Woltemade, a 24-year-old German international, from VfB Stuttgart for 69 million pounds. The towering striker made an immediate impression, scoring six goals in his first 10 appearances and earning praise from fans at St James' Park. However, his form dipped sharply over the winter months, with just one goal in his subsequent 20 outings across all competitions. Howe has experimented by deploying Woltemade deeper in midfield in recent games, but the adjustment has not yielded results. Speculation about his future has intensified, with reports suggesting the club might be open to a sale...

Now playing
0:00 / 0:00