After losing numerous regular starters during the summer window, the Newcastle United hierarchy have had to oversee somewhat of an overhaul ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The likes of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have all departed St James’ Park this summer, with new boss Matthias Jaissle relying on the board to invest to replace such talents.
Around £170m has been spent in the market to date, with the average age of the seven new additions currently sitting at just 21 years and four months.
However, it was one former signing and an experienced option within the Magpies’ ranks who has made a remarkable start to life under the new manager.
Why Wissa is becoming the next Joelinton for Newcastle
Ahead of the opening game of the Premier League season, many Newcastle fans would have been surprised to see Yoane Wissa starting in a number ten position behind Will Osula.
The DR Congo international, who cost a reported £55m last summer, was written off by many fans after netting just one Premier League goal under Eddie Howe last term.
However, Jaissle has seemingly put faith in the 29-year-old and offered him the perfect opportunity to turn his fortunes around on Tyneside throughout the 2026/27 campaign.
He backed up his manager’s faith during the draw with the Reds on Sunday, subsequently claiming the Man of the Match award after registering an assist for Joe Willock.
|
Yoane Wissa – stats against Liverpool |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Minutes played |
89 |
|
Touches |
41 |
|
Pass accuracy |
71% |
|
Dribbles completed |
100% |
|
Passes into final third |
5 |
|
Tackles made |
4 |
|
Fouls won |
4 |
|
Duels won |
60% |
Wissa may have failed to get on the scoresheet, but his threat to the Reds was evident, which could see him follow in the footsteps of Joelinton during the months ahead.
The Brazilian was in a similar boat to the 29-year-old on Tyneside, with both unable to deliver in the centre-forward position after joining for big-money to improve the attacking department.
He was subsequently dropped into a deeper midfield role, which managed to resurrect his career at St James’, whilst also making him a huge fan-favourite.
How Newcastle can land a star who’s more electric than Wissa
Despite the mammoth funds already being splashed this window, the Newcastle hierarchy are still on the hunt to add further quality to Jaissle’s squad for his first season at the helm.
Stuttgart star Bilal El Khannouss has been mentioned as one attacking target, but it’s unclear how much a deal cost the Magpies in the days ahead.
However, the Moroccan international isn’t the only attacker currently on the club’s shortlist, with Lille winger Matias Fernandez-Pardo once again being linked with a late move to Tyneside.
The i Paper have provided the latest on a potential deal for the 21-year-old, stating that the player himself would be open to a possible Premier League move.
They also claim the Ligue 1 side would sanction a late sale this window, but it would take a big-money offer to allow the French side to sanction a sale for the Belgian.
Whilst such a report fails to mention how much a deal for the youngster could cost in the coming days, other outlets have stated that any move could cost as much as £65m.
Whilst such a fee may seem like an unrealistic one for the Magpies, it could allow Jaissle’s side to secure the services of a player who is destined for big things in Europe.
Fernandez-Pardo registered 13 combined goals and assists in France’s top-flight last campaign, with such a figure the ninth highest of any attacker within the division.
His underlying stats also make for his excellent reading, subsequently highlighting why he would offer the new manager a more electric presence than Wissa in forward areas.
The Belgian managed to create an impressive average of 1.4 chances per 90 last term – a tally which placed him above 87% of other wingers across France’s top-division.
Such numbers highlight the threat he poses to the opposition within forward areas, which could also see the youngster off a greater presence than the DR Congo star when in possession.
The Belgian has developed into an extremely direct wide option, as reflected by his tally of 1.4 successful dribbles completed per 90 throughout 2025/26.
Like his chance creation, Fernandez-Pardo ranked highly compared to others in his position, as he managed to register more dribbles than 86% of players in Europe’s top-five leagues.
Compared to Wissa, such numbers are astronomical, with last summer’s big-money addition unable to offer the same level of output to the Lille attacker.
However, upon any move, the pair could strike up a deadly partnership within attacking areas, which could help Jaissle enjoy a successful first campaign on Tyneside.
£65m would be a lot of money to spend on an unproven Premier League star, but it’s a risk worth taking as the Magpies look to mount a charge back up England’s top-flight this campaign.
