adminAlexander Isak’s departure from Newcastle United was a bitter blow to the club and its supporters, especially considering the manner in which the striker left.
His refusal to train and multiple transfer requests tarnished the legacy he built at St James’ Park before completing a £125 million move to Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Eddie Howe’s side had the perfect opportunity to reinvest the money into the squad, but their £120 million spending spree on two new centre-forwards now appears to have been a huge disappointment.
Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade both arrived on Tyneside last summer to fill the void left by Isak, but the pair managed just nine Premier League goals between them during the 2025/26 campaign.
As a result, Newcastle are once again expected to strengthen their attack this summer, with several high-profile names emerging on the club’s shortlist.
It is safe to say every area of Newcastle’s frontline underperformed last season, increasing the need for fresh attacking talent.
RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa has been linked with the Magpies, with scouts reportedly sent to watch the Norwegian international. A deal for the 21-year-old could cost around £43 million as Newcastle search for a replacement for Anthony Gordon.
However, signing a new centre-forward remains one of the club’s main priorities, with Chelsea striker Liam Delap once again emerging as a potential target.
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle have been alerted to Delap’s availability and could consider making an offer during the current transfer window.
The Magpies are not alone in the race, however, as Everton are also interested in signing the 23-year-old.
The report claims Chelsea are willing to let Delap leave this summer if they receive an offer worth around £40 million.
Despite the circumstances surrounding his departure, there is no denying Alexander Isak is one of the best strikers to have played for Newcastle in recent years.
The Swedish international scored 62 goals in 109 appearances across all competitions, with no Newcastle player finding the net more often between 2022 and 2025.
After arriving from Real Sociedad for £60 million, Isak proved to be an excellent investment before becoming the club’s record sale when he joined Liverpool.
Although many supporters remain frustrated by the way he left, there is little doubt Newcastle missed a striker of his quality throughout last season.
The disappointing performances of Wissa and Woltemade highlighted the club’s lack of firepower, making another move for a centre-forward inevitable.
Delap may not be the first-choice option for many fans, particularly after scoring just one Premier League goal for Chelsea during the 2025/26 campaign.
However, he previously impressed with Ipswich Town, scoring 12 league goals in 37 appearances before his move to Stamford Bridge.
During that campaign, Delap displayed several impressive attacking qualities and even matched or outperformed Isak in a number of key statistics.
Former teammate Alex Palmer once described Delap as a “monster,” and the striker recorded a 47% shot-on-target accuracy rate, better than Isak’s.
Delap also registered a higher dribble success rate than the former Newcastle striker, suggesting he could offer a more complete attacking option for Eddie Howe.
In addition, the Englishman proved stronger in aerial duels, winning a greater percentage of his contests in the air.
Although his spell at Chelsea has been disappointing so far, Newcastle may still believe there is enough potential to justify a move.
A £40 million fee may seem expensive given his struggles at Stamford Bridge, but it could prove to be excellent business if Delap can rediscover the form that made him one of England’s most promising young strikers and eventually reach the levels Isak achieved at St James’ Park.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
