'A sour taste' - inside a summer like no other in Newcastle's history

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"Up until the very last moment."

This was the guiding principle behind the scenes at Newcastle United long before a tiring transfer window finally closed.

And there was a valid reason for that.

The conclusion was destined to be exhilarating, and indeed it was, as Newcastle transferred Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a record-setting £125 million deal while simultaneously acquiring Yoane Wissa for £55 million from Brentford.

There is a sense of relief on Tyneside with the addition of a tried-and-true Premier League striker in Wissa to help alleviate the pressures on record signing Nick Woltemade, who has yet to make an appearance for a club outside Germany.

However, after remaining steadfast for an extended period, Newcastle ultimately lost one of the top strikers in the world to the champions on the final day of the transfer window.

To those watching from the outside, it seemed unfathomable when Isak was celebrating in elation during a huddle after the Champions League anthem echoed at St James' Park when Newcastle clinched qualification on the last day of the previous season.

Yet, this summer has been unparalleled in the annals of the club's history.

Isak's situation exemplifies a taxing transfer window

Losing Isak was certainly not part of the strategy.

Newcastle aspires to one day challenge Liverpool for the grandest trophies instead of transferring away their standout player to a team they triumphed over in the Carabao Cup final last March.

In a statement issued last month, Newcastle could not have anticipated that the terms of sale would eventually be fulfilled as the dealings stretched on for weeks following Liverpool's initial rejected bid of £110 million.

To concede on the deadline raises a concerning precedent—this is a player with three years remaining on his contract—but the circumstances appeared to have become increasingly unsustainable.

Isak's absence had already overshadowed the club. Could the departing Swede have truly been reintegrated if he did not secure his desired transfer as the window came to a close? Was there a danger that his worth would further diminish if he remained inactive?

It certainly seemed like a significant road lay ahead for Isak with the supporters after the 25-year-old missed the start of the season and issued a dramatic statement asserting that “change is in the best interests of everyone.”

Just last week, Newcastle supporter Ian Cuthbertson declared he would “never accept him again,” while Mal Colledge remarked that the entire situation left a “sour taste.”

Fellow fan Suzanna Armstrong noted that “no one is irreplaceable.”

However, Debra Woodall, proudly donning a commemorative home jersey to honor the day Isak contributed to ending a 70-year drought for a major domestic trophy, acknowledged that replacing him would be “difficult.”

“Hopefully they find someone who can score,” she expressed.

Wissa indeed has a track record for that—no player netted more non-penalty goals (19) in the Premier League last season—while there exists a belief within the club that Woltemade's talents will adapt to the top tier in due time.

Newcastle's interest in Wissa has been well reported after Brentford rejected two earlier offers, but the transfer involving Woltemade was so discreet that those directly connected to the transaction were even denying its occurrence just last week.

They stated that Stuttgart would not part ways with him, no matter the interest from prospective buyers, especially following Bayern Munich’s earlier unsuccessful attempt.

At the same time, a flight had been arranged to take Woltemade from Stuttgart to Tyneside for his medical examination.

In contrast to the prominent pursuits of Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko, and Joao Pedro, Newcastle operated with such efficiency and secrecy that information only emerged when the transfer was practically finalized.

From an external perspective, the £69m transfer appeared to unfold swiftly. Participants in the process referred to it as "very quick." However, for head coach Eddie Howe, this deal had been anticipated for some time due to numerous challenges in his quest for a central striker.

"What appears rapid to you is not fast for us," Howe remarked. "It’s a drawn-out process, as you are dependent on others."

Such sentiments could have easily applied to the transfer window overall.

Howe had previously described last summer as the toughest phase of his career, as Newcastle grappled with making significant signings and hurried to offload Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to avoid breaching profit and sustainability regulations.

However, it was particularly revealing when Howe later characterized that challenging window as "a walk in the park" in comparison to the tough months that followed.

Determined to act early, Newcastle aimed to conduct their business promptly.

Yet it reached a stage where they could have assembled a formidable five-a-side team with players who opted for different clubs instead.

For example, it is known that James Trafford was "super excited" at the thought of joining Newcastle, but discussions with Burnley over the transfer fee dragged on.

Ultimately, Manchester City activated their buyback option, matching Newcastle's bid for the former goalkeeper, leading him to choose a return to the Etihad Stadium.

A theme began to emerge.

While Benjamin Sesko's camp held "great respect" for Newcastle and regarded them as a "remarkable club with remarkable individuals," those nearest to the striker previously believed that it was not the "ideal time" for him to transition to St James' Park when the club first expressed interest in 2022.

The situation replayed itself last month when Sesko made the decision to affiliate with what he described as a "historic club" in Manchester United.

Newcastle certainly has its own heritage, but they faced difficulties competing against the established hierarchy for such players during the early stages of the transfer window.

In addition to the influence of legacy—another target, Joao Pedro, mentioned growing up watching Chelsea claim titles—these clubs benefit from more robust revenue streams.

Manchester United (£364.7m) and Chelsea (£337.8m) were among five clubs in the Premier League that spent more on player wages than Newcastle's total revenue (£320.3m) based on their most recent financial statements from the 2023-24 season.

Newcastle ranked eighth in terms of wage expenditure during that same period, and after experiencing numerous setbacks this summer, the club grew increasingly resolved to secure players who were "eager" to join.

It was observed that some of Newcastle's most successful acquisitions under Howe were in that category, including Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, and Bruno Guimaraes, who signed on while the club was mired in relegation concerns in 2022.

This summer, three of Newcastle's priciest signings—Woltemade, Wissa, and Anthony Elanga—did not hesitate when they learned of the club's interest.

Malick Thiaw also required little persuasion to follow in Sandro Tonali's footsteps and depart AC Milan for Newcastle.

The German defender had been participating in a training camp in the Lake District just weeks prior to his £35m transfer when the topic of Newcastle arose.

Paul Winsper, a high-performance consultant who had previously been associated with Newcastle, was present to share his insights.

"We all stayed in the same house," Winsper recounted. "We joked about it—'Come on. Join Newcastle!'

"He asked, 'What's it like?' I replied, 'Incredible.'

"I had lived in the US for 16 years and had always felt a pull to return to the North East and reconnect with my roots.

"It was wonderful to be able to promote the North East to Malick and show him what a fantastic place it truly is. I later received a text from him saying, 'It's done. I'm in.'"

Further boardroom shifts anticipated

This represented one of several transactions Newcastle finalized without the presence of a sporting director or CEO.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell exited the club in June, while CEO Darren Eales submitted his resignation last autumn after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.

Consequently, the responsibility fell to head of recruitment Steve Nickson and assistant head of recruitment Andy Howe, alongside co-owner Jamie Reuben, to take on additional duties.

Considering the tumult within the boardroom and the difficult beginning to the recruitment window, the idea of signing six first-team players seemed far-fetched at one point.

Eddie Howe openly acknowledged that the lack of a sporting director and CEO created an "unconventional dynamic" as Newcastle attempted to navigate the circumstances to their advantage.

Filling these leadership roles is vital for future transfer windows, and Newcastle aims to achieve this by recently appointing a technical director, Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, who will report to the successor of Mitchell and oversee the club's football data initiatives.

A year ago, Mitchell's claim that Newcastle's recruitment strategies were "not fit for purpose" understandably made headlines. However, he also highlighted a subtle aspect regarding how clubs that relied more heavily on data thrived last summer.

This insight did not go unnoticed by Newcastle, and it is believed that the club's interest in Gopaladesikan dates back to last autumn, though Atalanta was reluctant to part with their director of football intelligence.

It was quite indicative that Newcastle was willing to wait until July for a candidate who is "not your average" technical director, according to Steve Barrett, the vice-president of sports performance at Playermaker.

"He's one of the most intelligent individuals I've ever encountered," Barrett remarked. "His dedication and fervor for the sport are unyielding. He embodies what Newcastle stands for."

In his early thirties, Gopaladesikan is already an accomplished American mathematician with experiences at Atalanta and Benfica, as well as tenures at Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund during his time at Microsoft as a product manager.

Given the fierce competition Newcastle was up against for sought-after targets, this seems like an opportune appointment, even if recruitment is only one element of Gopaladesikan's extensive responsibilities.

"There may be some skepticism regarding specific types of targets, yet they will align with a highly effective model that could surprise supporters," stated Barrett. "He can assist in identifying excellent value in players who may not typically fit the usual criteria but could serve as hidden treasures for Newcastle."

'Enables them to reinvest effectively'

So, what does this summer imply for Newcastle's future?

This question will unfold on the pitch in the weeks and months ahead as Howe's team aims to contend on multiple fronts following the acquisitions of Woltemade, Wissa, Elanga, Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, and Aaron Ramsdale.

But what is happening off the pitch?

Football finance specialist Kieran Maguire has compared Isak's transfer to the scenario when Aston Villa traded Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021, which was also a British record at that time, a £100m transaction.

"Newcastle had already improved their situation from a PSR perspective, but this will certainly aid in complying with UEFA squad cost regulations because the profits from player sales contribute to the calculations when assessing the 70% wage-to-revenue ratio," Maguire explained. "This will enable them to reinvest effectively.

"It will provide them with the financial leeway they lacked 12 months ago when they were compelled to remain inactive for a couple of transfer windows. That is something to avoid, particularly when the club has ambitious goals and aspirations."