The summer transfer window may have closed, but Newcastle United technical director Ross Wilson remains busy behind the scenes as he looks to develop fresh plans and strategies for Matthias Jaissle.
Newcastle have remarkably come through the transfer market in decent shape despite the departures of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and captain Bruno Guimaraes. That came alongside Eddie Howe’s shock decision to step down at the end of July and a series of failed attempts to land several major transfer targets.
Yet, four points from their opening two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have once again highlighted what makes the club so special.
The Magpies did manage to strengthen their squad, with Matias Fernandez-Pardo arriving in a £51m deadline-day deal. While club-record signing Nick Woltemade has departed on loan to Juventus, Yoane Wissa is beginning to show signs that he could effectively become a new signing for Newcastle this season.
Wissa endured a difficult first campaign on Tyneside. After pushing to secure his move away from Brentford, the Congolese forward suffered an injury while on international duty before even featuring competitively for Newcastle.
Having joined for £50m plus add-ons, his underwhelming first season would have been hugely frustrating for Howe. The former manager made his own mistakes, but he was also dealt a difficult situation after previously taking the club to new heights, including two Champions League qualifications and a Carabao Cup triumph at Wembley.
Just two games into the Jaissle era, however, Wissa has already equalled his output from his disappointing debut season. He appears sharper, quicker and more aggressive, while also looking increasingly comfortable at St. James’ Park.
Fernandez-Pardo will provide competition for the 30-year-old in the No. 9 role, although Wissa will likely back himself to stay ahead of the Belgian youngster, who is not a traditional out-and-out centre-forward.
However, Newcastle could soon have an even bigger challenger lined up.
How Newcastle can upgrade on Wissa in 2027
Woltemade’s loan move to Juventus does not include an obligation to buy, but it still feels increasingly likely that his Newcastle career is coming to an end. As a result, signing another striker could become a major priority next summer.
In fact, Newcastle may already be working on that possibility. According to Football Insider, the Magpies are continuing to explore a move for Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane after being linked with the 20-year-old during the summer.
Newcastle reportedly pushed to secure a deal before deadline day but, like Aston Villa, were unable to convince Leverkusen to sell. Both Premier League clubs are now expected to revisit their interest next summer, although the Bundesliga side’s £87m valuation could prove a major obstacle.
Kofane’s agent, Eric Depolo, believes his client is worth even more, claiming that he is “a £100m player”. Based on his potential, that assessment may not be far from the mark.
Last season, the youngster scored five goals and registered four assists in 29 appearances, despite starting only 12 matches. His statistics only tell part of the story, though. Kofane’s technical ability and willingness to drive forward with the ball, having completed 58% of his dribbles last season, underline why he is viewed as such an exciting attacking prospect.
The 2026/27 campaign is still in its early stages, but Kofane has already made an impact. He scored from the bench in his only substitute appearance so far as Die Roten suffered a 3-2 defeat to newly-promoted Elversberg in their season opener.
He offers both goals and creativity, making him an intriguing option for Newcastle. While Wissa is beginning to recover from a difficult first year at the club, he is now 30 and will eventually require serious competition and a potential successor.
Kofane could be the answer. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “one of the most exciting strikers in the world”, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest he could continue improving significantly over the coming years.
Newcastle will eventually need a long-term talisman capable of leading the attack throughout the Jaissle era. Wissa can offer an immediate solution, while Fernandez-Pardo possesses the versatility to become an important figure in black and white.
But Kofane could have the qualities required to become the true focal point of Newcastle’s attack.
Wissa struggled to properly fill the void left by Alexander Isak last season. He has the opportunity to put that right over the coming campaign, but Newcastle’s apparent determination to target another striker next year, despite the 2026 summer window having only just closed, may reveal exactly where the club’s long-term plans lie.