One of the headline sagas of the summer revolved around Newcastle United’s striker dilemma, as it seemed inevitable that their star man, Alexander Isak, would complete a British transfer record switch to Premier League title-holders Liverpool.
Wissa suffered a knee setback during the international break and is still waiting for his first appearance. The DR Congo international has been sidelined for at least Newcastle’s upcoming fixtures, with his debut likely only after the following international break.
When questioned why Woltemade saw less than 30 minutes of action against Barcelona, Howe explained it was due to Wissa’s injury combined with Anthony Gordon’s ban from the Liverpool clash. With limited forward options, Woltemade has been carefully managed so that they are not left completely short in attack.
Although the two summer recruits initially appeared adequate to cover Isak’s departure, the opening matches have shown just how quickly Newcastle can find themselves short-handed. Because of this, the club are already eyeing January as a chance to reinforce their attacking depth.
Newcastle eye Endrick loan deal
The Magpies are considering a temporary move for Brazilian forward Endrick from Real Madrid to fix their shortage up front. The 19-year-old has yet to play a single minute under Xabi Alonso this season, and concerns from his camp suggest that the lack of action could hinder his progression.
Spanish reports claim the move could benefit everyone involved. Newcastle are in the market for “a youthful, ambitious attacking option eager to shine,” while Endrick is seeking valuable minutes that can come against the notoriously tough Premier League defences. Indeed, Newcastle are thought to be “among the earliest to ask about his situation,” already approaching Madrid to discuss the possibility.
Madrid paid around £41.4 million for Endrick, yet for now, nobody seems interested in making the switch permanent. Instead, a short-term loan appears the most suitable solution for the remainder of the campaign.
From Los Blancos’ standpoint, it allows them to keep Endrick on their books and help him progress without reducing the game time of fellow forwards such as Kylian Mbappé.
Endrick mirrors Wissa’s style
Although there is presently no indication that Wissa’s knee problem will last beyond his current timeline of late October, there always remains the chance of setbacks or a slower recovery process.
Should that situation arise, a loan for Endrick would provide a forward with a strikingly similar playing profile. Despite his youth and lack of senior opportunities so far, the Brazilian is shaping up as a comparable type of attacker to Wissa.
Wissa may boast greater experience and scoring consistency, but statistically, both players resemble each other in distribution and link-up play, delivering similar passing figures, accuracy, and even expected assists.
From Endrick’s angle, working alongside Wissa could offer guidance on the kind of player he might develop into, while Howe would gain the option to rotate between them without having to overhaul his tactical system thanks to their like-for-like qualities.
