Published Sep 29, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT+1

This will not be a flawless season, but Newcastle have shown early signs of recovery following a frantic summer transfer window, losing Eddie Howe and superstars such as Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but also signing a some talented up-and-comers who could grow into superstars.

It's fair to say Nick Woltemade failed to replace Isak after arriving at St. James' Park for a club-record fee, but Yoane Wissa is already taking steady steps at No. 9 this season.

How Wissa is bouncing back at Newcastle

Last season at Newcastle, Wissa looked like a pale imitation of the fluent Brentford centre-forward who hit 19 goals in the Premier League across the 2024/25 season.

Last summer, the Magpies scrambled to find an Isak replacement, and while the DR Congo striker wasn't their first choice, he eventually completed the move for £50m.

One league goal was all he had to show for his troubles following a testing and turbulent year. Many assumed his career at the club had finished as quickly as it had begun.

But he has bounced back this term. It's still early days, but the experienced 29-year-old has looked sharper and more involved than last year. Across five games, he already has himself a goal and an assist.

However, Jaissle may not be completely sold on Wissa. Newcastle fielded William Osula up top on the opening day of the season, and he has since been sidelined due to injury.

Moreover, technical director Ross Wilson is exploring the market for potential successors.

Newcastle open talks to sign £69m striker

Newcastle have options at No. 9, but Wissa has so far failed to suggest that he will score goals with the kind of regularity Jaissle expects as he pushes to steer this outfit back into the ascendancy, and PIF may look to add more quality to their ranks.

According to Fussball News over in Germany, Newcastle have already opened talks with intermediaries as they consider a move to sign Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez this summer. The Colombian, 28, has an €80m (£68m) release clause in his contract, but it's unlikely the Toon would pay such a fee.

Nottingham Forest and Barcelona are also interested in the prolific goalscorer. Sporting believe they are in a strong negotiating position, with Suarez contracted until 2030, but they would acquiesce to his sale in January if that release clause is met.

A range of variables, and the key point here is that Newcastle's interest is strong following the events of the transfer window. Since a strong start to the season, Wissa has blanked across three Premier League games, missing a penalty against Hull City before the international break and lacking the energy and conviction that characterised his efforts across those first few weeks.

Suarez shares with Wissa an amount of experience that Jaissle's side could benefit from after signing exclusively 24-year-old players and younger this summer. He's also among the most clinical strikers out there right now, bagging 45 goals and ten assists since leaving Almeria and signing for the Portuguese giants over a year ago.

Suarez doesn't have the tenacious pressing of summer signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo, but he is an out-and-out striker. He would challenge Wissa for a place at No. 9, perhaps winning and cementing himself as Jaissle's leading man. Given that the manager employs such an aggressive and front-footed system, he could be the perfect man for Newcastle to sign.

The Magpies have looked a little choppy in attack so far this season. They had been impressively clinical in the early phase of the campaign, but that is unsustainable, and a forward like Suarez who would pepper the box with regularity could be the perfect addition to upgrade on Wissa, still blowing hot and cold.