Fresh reports suggest Brentford are demanding £60million for Wissa, who has just one year left on his current deal at the Gtech Community Stadium plus an option. Newcastle won’t go near that valuation, rating the striker closer to £35million due to his age and contract, though Brentford still control the situation.

Wissa skipped Brentford’s opening loss to Nottingham Forest amid speculation and has since deleted every club-related post from Instagram. Isak also sat out Newcastle’s opening draw at Aston Villa in hopes of forcing through his switch to Liverpool.

Yet in both cases, the unsettled attackers remain tied to clubs reluctant to sell. That sets the stage for a tense final two weeks of the window, with Newcastle’s pursuit of Wissa possibly shaping Liverpool’s ability to land Isak.

If Newcastle secure Wissa, they would still chase another forward before opening the exit door for Isak to complete his Liverpool transfer.

Wolves attacker Jorgen Strand Larsen is another target on Newcastle’s shortlist after scoring 14 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign.

The 25-year-old only just made a £23 million permanent switch to Wolves after an initial loan stint with Spanish club Celta Vigo.

Both Strand Larsen and Wissa are considered as possible successors to Callum Wilson, who left Newcastle earlier this transfer window.

Although Newcastle capturing either striker would affect Isak’s future at St James’ Park in some way, it would not automatically sanction his departure to Liverpool.

Strand Larsen would be tempted by a Newcastle move, but reaching an agreement with Wolves may prove a challenging task.

Given limited time and targets, Strand Larsen may turn into Newcastle’s preferred option if no alternatives materialise.

Currently, The Magpies are yet to submit a concrete bid for the Norwegian international striker.

Even so, Wolves have ‘no plans’ to sell Strand Larsen after parting with last season’s leading scorer, Matheus Cunha, to Manchester United earlier this summer. Cunha had been on Newcastle’s radar at the start of the window, but United swooped fast to trigger his release clause and finalise a transfer.

What damaged Newcastle’s plans at the start of the summer window may now also harm them at the close, directly reducing their hopes of signing a priority striker.