
Ekitike 2.0: Newcastle plotting move for “chaotic” £65m Wissa alternative
Newcastle United know two things: they are set to continue their wonderful journey with Alexander Isak fronting Eddie Howe’s project; Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike will not join them, and instead is set for Liverpool.
It’s a funny one to dissect. On one hand, United have likely missed out on another top target in the final third; Ekitike is a young striker with vast potential, talent scout Jacek Kulig even claiming he “could definitely reach world-class striker levels.”
However, if Liverpool reach their quarry, they are effectively eliminated from any future chase concerning Isak.
The Sweden striker is world-class, but Newcastle still need to sign a number nine with Callum Wilson having left Tyneside at the end of his contract.
Newcastle want new striker
With Ekitike seemingly off the cards, Newcastle have set their sights on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in 2024/25.
Wissa, 28, is valued at £50m and has been confirmed as Howe’s new top target by The Athletic’s David Ornstein. However, with Bryan Mbeumo set to sign for Manchester United, the Magpies might want to find an alternative.
And they have done so. According to Sport BILD, Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has been lined up by the PIF bosses in a shocking twist. The 25-year-old is expected to leave Jürgen Klopp’s squad this summer, with Saudi Arabian interest being heavy, and the striker is valued in the region of £65m.
Fabrizio Romano has since chimed in to note that Newcastle have not engaged in any talks concerning Nunez, although he didn’t shut the door on a potential move.
It might not be the most popular track Newcastle could head down, but there’s meaning in the madness. Nunez’s prime years are ostensibly ahead of him, and he’s younger and more malleable than Wissa.
Howe, more to the point, is one of the sharpest tactical minds out there.
Why Newcastle are considering Darwin Nunez
Make no mistake, this would be quite the peculiar finish to a transfer saga with more twists than a high-octane thriller novel. Certainly, few would see this one coming.
However, Nunez is a maverick, one of the most talented strikers in the Premier League, if not one of the most consistent. Noted for his “chaotic” energy by The Athletic’s Christopher Hamill, the Uruguayan has spent three years on English shores, and he’s been something of a mixed bag.
Missed chances have been a common theme, with 55 such chances squandered in spite of his modest 25-goal return, as per Sofascore, in the Premier League, but he’s also posted a decent return of 66 goal contributions across 143 appearances in a Liverpool shirt, including just 76 starting roles.
Say what you want, but 40 goals and 26 assists marks not a decent haul across 76 starts. The ingredients for success are there.
It’s worth noting that Nunez’s finishing improved somewhat last season too. He missed eight big chances in the Premier League last term, converting five strikes.
This, at the very least, illustrates a slight upturn in his shooting, something Howe would be sure to work on with him.
And, of course, St. James’ Park has suffered the bitter taste of how effective Nunez can be when on his A-game.
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