adminNewcastle United are preparing for a significant rebuild in attack following the expected €80m sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona.
Rather than focusing on a single direct replacement, the club are pursuing several young wingers who fit Eddie Howe’s high-energy, pressing system and long-term recruitment model.
Among the players being closely monitored are Malick Fofana of Lyon, Ez Abde of Real Betis, Matías Fernández-Pardo of Lille, and Victor Muñoz of Osasuna.
Each of them is regarded as a dynamic wide option, offering pace, creativity, and the potential to develop into regular first-team contributors over time.
A new development in Newcastle’s recruitment strategy now centres on AIK winger Zadok Yohanna, with reports suggesting the club have submitted a €30m (£25.9m) offer in an attempt to beat Brighton & Hove Albion to his signing.
The Premier League side are believed to be in direct competition with Brighton, who are said to hold a verbal understanding with the player, while several Bundesliga clubs are also monitoring the situation.
Yohanna is an 18-year-old Nigerian winger who has rapidly emerged as one of AIK’s most promising attacking talents since joining the Swedish club in 2025.
Operating mainly from the right flank, he is known for his explosive acceleration, direct dribbling, and ability to take on defenders in one-versus-one situations.
His style is built around quick transitions, sharp movement, and an aggressive attacking mindset that makes him a constant threat in open space.
Despite his young age, Yohanna has already shown encouraging end product, registering five goals in 18 appearances for AIK.
His rapid development has attracted growing attention from across Europe, with scouts viewing him as a modern wide forward capable of adapting to the demands of top-level football.
His profile has drawn comparisons with Yankuba Minteh, particularly due to a similar pathway from West Africa through Scandinavian football before moving into the European spotlight.
Like Minteh, Yohanna is seen as a player who can be developed into a high-impact Premier League winger, combining attacking output with defensive work rate in a high-press system.
In terms of Premier League suitability, Yohanna is viewed as a strong tactical fit for teams such as Newcastle United and Brighton, both of whom demand intensity from wide players in and out of possession.
His ability to stretch defences, press aggressively, and attack space at speed aligns closely with the physical and tactical requirements of English top-flight football.
Talks over the transfer remain ongoing, but Newcastle’s late intervention has intensified competition for his signature.
Negotiations are understood to have accelerated in recent hours, with a decision expected within the next 48 hours as both clubs push to secure the highly rated teenager.
Yohanna’s rapid rise has also revived discussions around Newcastle’s previous transfer strategy, particularly the development path of young talents such as Minteh.
The winger was signed from Scandinavia before being sold to Brighton for £33m without making a senior appearance for Newcastle, alongside Elliot Anderson’s departure to Nottingham Forest.
Those moves helped the club remain compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules at the time, although they have since been debated due to the significant increase in both players’ market values following their exits.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim