Newcastle United is navigating a tumultuous transfer window, a stark contrast to the jubilation of Champions League qualification. Former player Stuart Pearce has offered a potential solution for the Magpies in a post-Alexander Isak era, suggesting Darwin Nunez.
Darwin Nunez Could Be the Answer for Newcastle’s Striker Woes
Darwin Nunez is being eyed as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak at Newcastle, with his “unshakability” seen as a positive trait by some.
- Newcastle faces a challenging transfer window after Champions League qualification.
- Alexander Isak’s potential departure leaves a significant gap up front.
- Darwin Nunez is suggested as a possible replacement, despite his profligate nature.
- The club has also encountered setbacks with other transfer targets like Benjamin Sesko and James Trafford.
- Eddie Howe’s track record of player development is highlighted as a key factor for Nunez’s success.
Newcastle are facing a difficult transfer window, a scenario few would have predicted after celebrating Champions League qualification. Stuart Pearce believes Darwin Nunez could be a player to make the team “better off” in a world without Alexander Isak.
Pearce noted, “He might just be the one that the new Newcastle fans take to. He creates chances for himself, for sure. He’s just been a little bit wasteful over time. If he gets that right, all of a sudden he’ll be a very effective replacement for Isak.”
The club is reportedly having “reservations” about Benjamin Sesko and is unlikely to sign him. They are confronting the reality that even a struggling Manchester United may hold more appeal than Newcastle, with Champions League football seemingly not enough to sway the striker, much like Bryan Mbeumo earlier in the window.
The situation with Yoane Wissa, who reportedly refused to train to force a move to Newcastle while Brentford insists he is not for sale, adds to the club’s transfer woes. This contrasts with Isak training alone at Real Sociedad. It’s unlikely the club’s ownership will welcome any “you reap what you sow” sentiments regarding their current predicament.
Further complicating matters, Newcastle is said to have overpaid for Anthony Elanga, missed out on top goalkeeper target James Trafford, and appears set to lose Marc Guehi to Liverpool either this summer or next year. The transfer window couldn’t be going much worse for the Magpies.
It’s unlikely that Newcastle views Darwin Nunez’s “unshakability” as positively as Pearce does. Signing a striker who misses chances but persists might not be the ideal replacement for a clinical finisher like Isak. However, the sentiment is that Newcastle should consider a move for Nunez.
The obvious drawback is Nunez’s tendency to miss chances, making him far from a direct replacement for Isak. A swap deal that aids Liverpool in acquiring Isak would be an odd strategy if they intend to keep him.
The club faces a dilemma: do they want to keep a striker who wishes to leave? This is a decision that would benefit from a sporting director, rather than ‘angry’ owners making the call without fully understanding the impact on the dressing room dynamic.
If Isak departs, Newcastle aims to sign two new strikers. In that scenario, a deal involving Nunez plus a substantial fee for Isak becomes more appealing.
There’s potential in Nunez, and Newcastle offers him a good environment to develop, largely due to Eddie Howe. Howe has an exceptional recent record of improving players and maximizing their potential.
Joelinton and Jacob Murphy are prime examples, but Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, and Isak himself have all benefited from Howe’s coaching.
While there’s a risk Howe might not be able to “fix” Nunez, making him the sole frontline option with William Osula as backup untenable, Newcastle can afford to take a gamble on Nunez. This is especially true if they secure other options like Sesko, Wissa, or Ollie Watkins as backups, recognizing Nunez’s significant unfulfilled potential.
