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Liverpool's chances of signing Alexander Isak looked to increase last week when Newcastle secured the services of Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart, but the Magpies are still keen on signing another striker before allowing their star player to leave.
After losing Callum Wilson on a free transfer at the end of last season, an Isak exit would leave Eddie Howe without the two senior strikers who were in the squad in 2024-25.
Woltemade is reportedly viewed as a direct replacement for Isak, but that does not necessarily mean Isak will be allowed to leave without a replacement for Wilson having also been brought in. It would be a huge risk for Newcastle to rely on Woltemade, a Premier League rookie, as its only striker for the new season.
Yoane Wissa has been a target for Newcastle for much of the summer, but it's starting to look unlikely that that deal will be done before Monday's deadline.
That's because Brentford has reportedly slapped an $88 million price tag on the player, which is an unrealistic asking price for a player who a) turns 29 this week, and b) is out of contract at the end of the season.
Wissa issued a statement on Sunday stating his desire to leave Brentford, but that is unlikely to force his current club's hand.
"I have stayed silent for much of the summer," he wrote, "but with just hours remaining of the transfer window I feel compelled make it clear that I want to leave Brentford. I believe the club are unduly standing in my way despite a series of fair offers throughout the summer.
"Earlier this summer, I held open discussions with the club's senior management, including key directors and the new head coach. I made clear my intention to explore a new challenge.
"During these conversations, it was confirmed to me and my representatives that the club would not stand in my way if a reasonable offer was received. This was also put in writing. Based on this understanding, I sought to find a new club, keeping Brentford informed with full transparency at every step.
"I received a formal offer from another Premier League club and communicated I wanted to join. I was under the impression, from all my conversations with Brentford, that there was a mutual agreement to part ways.
"Yet as the window comes to an end, the club has now significantly changed its position, going against what was communicated. This has left me in a difficult and frustrating position. The promise that I could leave this summer has not been fulfilled."
The nature of Wissa's statement could well dissuade Newcastle from signing him. Given the Magpies have had to deal with a very similar situation this summer with Isak, would they want to take another player on board who has it in him to effectively go on strike if he wants to leave at some point down the line? We'll find out in the next 24 hours or so.
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