'Absolutely wants this deal': Craig Hope gives update on Newcastle United's striker search that is positive for Toon fans
Newcastle United could be about to make another breakthrough in the summer transfer market after many setbacks.
Eddie Howe went into this window with a list of several positions that needed addressing, and while there have been attempts to fill those positions, so far only one has been fulfilled.
The £55 million signing of Anthony Elanga remains Newcastle's only incoming business, having been beaten to the signing of Hugo Ekitike, João Pedro, Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo, James Trafford, Matheus Cunha, and Jonathan David. All for different reasons, but mostly due to money.
Newcastle could be about to finally buck the trend, however, as Craig Hope claims that Yoane Wissa wants the move to Newcastle.
Craig Hope gives a positive update on Yoane Wissa
Yoane Wissa is Newcastle's replacement for Callum Wilson; however, Brentford are trying to keep hold of the DR Congo forward. That has caused Wissa to down tools in an attempt to force a move after being told last year he'd be allowed to leave this summer if an offer came along. There have been several clubs interested, but Craig Hope insists there's only one that Wissa wants.
"Yoane Wissa, I had an update on that this morning. I was trying to take a nap and I took a call on that. My latest information on that is Wissa has communicated that he absolutely wants this deal to happen, and that's important.
"Eddie Howe is on the record, as saying that transfers only happen when a player really wants them to and Eddie likes that. He liked that in Anthony Elanga.
"Wissa wants it to happen. He's not going to play for Brentford. Again, he's communicated that to them. He's told them to find a solution. This is the move he wants, not Villa, not for Forest, not Tottenham - Newcastle."
We finally have a target who wants to join Newcastle
Signing Yoane Wissa will be a huge positive step for Newcastle after stagnating for so long in the market this summer. However, the Magpies still find themselves needing three or four more additions after that, depending on what happens with Alexander Isak.
We'd say that regardless of whether or not Isak heads to Liverpool this summer, we need another top-tier striker in to help us navigate the Champions League, purely because we don't feel like we can trust Isak to give us 100% now. Having your head turned can take a long time to recover from, just look at Anthony Gordon last season.
Brentford will hopefully concede defeat on trying to retain Yoane Wissa soon, and the deal will go through. It feels good to have a player out there who wants to come to Newcastle and isn't just using us to raise the bid of another club.
