Newcastle's £55m Wissa Blunder: 'Looks Injured Even When He's Fit', Slams Ladyman
Newcastle United's £55m signing of Yoane Wissa from Brentford has come under fire from The Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman, who claims the forward looks 'injured even when he's not' amid the club's squad depth struggles. After selling Alexander Isak for a record £125m, the Magpies aimed to rebuild their attack but Wissa has managed just three goals in 21 games, hampered by injury and poor form. Recent cup woes highlight Howe's rotation issues as Newcastle juggle multiple competitions.
Newcastle's Summer Spending Splash Turns Sour
Picture this: you're at the pub, pint in hand, and your mate starts moaning about blowing his wages on a dodgy motor that keeps breaking down. That's Newcastle United right now with Yoane Wissa. The Magpies forked out a whopping £55m to snag the Brentford forward, but top pundit Ian Ladyman from The Daily Mail reckons it's £55m down the drain.
Ladyman's not mincing words – he says Wissa looks like a player who's carrying a knock, even when he's supposedly match-fit. Ouch. But let's rewind to see how the Toon got here.
Cashing In on Isak, Chasing Replacements
Last summer, Eddie Howe's lads fought like lions to keep Alexander Isak. The Swedish hitman was class, but Liverpool came knocking with a British-record £125m bid. Newcastle eventually waved goodbye, but not before scouting striker options like mad.
They eyed Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko first, but those deals fizzled. Enter Nick Woltemade for £69.3m and Wissa for that eyebrow-raising £55m. Blimey, Brentford must've been chuckling all the way to the bank – especially with Wissa nearing 29 when he rocked up in early September.
The idea? Bolster the attack and juggle Premier League, cups, and Europe. Sounds solid on paper, right? Except reality's been a right kick in the teeth.
Wissa's Nightmare Start and Squad Depth Woes
Since arriving, Wissa's barely troubled scorers. Just three goals and one assist in 21 appearances. He struggles to nab a start under Howe, and that's when he's not hobbling off with a knee injury that sidelined him for chunks of the season.
Newcastle's recent FA Cup exit summed it up. Trailing at home, Howe chucked Wissa on in the second half to spark a comeback. Didn't happen. Ladyman, watching from the stands, was scathing: why not leave him benched?
It's part of a bigger headache. The lads smashed Manchester United 1-0 with 10 men midweek at St James' Park – pure grit. But come Saturday against Man City, Howe's rotation backfired. Resting Anthony Gordon, Joelinton, and Dan Burn? Fair enough with Barcelona looming in the Champions League. But the benchwarmers couldn't hack it, and the squad looks stretched thin across fronts.
Ladyman's Verdict: Mental, Physical, or Just a Dud?
Ladyman's boot into the deal is brutal but fair. 'Is it mental? Physical? Whatever, it looks like £55m flushed,' he penned. Newcastle's juggling act – league, cups, Europe – is exposing their lack of depth. Howe's tinkering against City flopped spectacularly, and Wissa embodies the gamble gone wrong.
Don't get me wrong, Howe's a top gaffer, turning Newcastle into contenders. But splashing mega-bucks on near-30-year-olds who can't stay fit or fire blanks? That's the sort of business that has fans twitching.
Meanwhile, whispers elsewhere: Tino Livramento to City? Nah, Romano says stay put. Tottenham could lose 15 players if relegated – Newcastle sniffing? And Sandro Tonali's future? Italian clubs circling. Big midweek ahead: Toon vs Barca, Arsenal drama, and more.
What a rollercoaster. Newcastle fans, chin up – but maybe next time, splash on youth with legs that last. Cheers for reading, lads.
(Word count: 528)