Newcastle United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest just before the international break isn’t the only cause for optimism at St James’ Park currently.
Indeed, in a development that happened across the break, Eddie Howe’s side has now appointed a new sporting director in Ross Wilson, with the Scotsman leaving the recently defeated Tricky Trees behind to take up this post, having also previously been in the position at Rangers.
Seen as a notable part of the City Ground jigsaw that clinched European football last season, Wilson will be aiming to emulate that success on Tyneside.
He will have a big role to play in how Newcastle assert their dominance in transfer windows moving forward as well, having previously been the man to bring Anthony Elanga – who is now donning Magpies black and white – to Forest for just £15m.
One of his first notable bits of business at the Toon could see him try to poach a Premier League striker.
Newcastle considering move for new striker
Over the summer, the striker market dominated the transfer window with Alexander Isak’s late move to Liverpool having an almighty domino effect.
That saw Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa head to St James’ Park, but with the latter still yet to take to the field owing to an injury, another striker could be sought in the January window.
Indeed, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, Howe could be handed some funds this winter if he needs it, with Brentford attacker Igor Thiago reportedly catching the eye as Wilson attempts to lay down a marker.
Said to be catching the eye of scouts already this season, after a nightmare debut campaign in England, it is stated that Thiago remains on the Newcastle radar, even with Woltemade and Wissa through the door.
Thiago might well fancy his chances of rivalling Woltemade from the get-go if he were to up and leave the Bees for a new adventure on Tyneside, with the Brazilian displaying a similarly clinical edge to that of the 6-foot-6 powerhouse.
How Thiago could rival Woltemade at Newcastle
Woltemade’s signature being confirmed this summer would have instantly excited those of a Toon persuasion, as the big bucks had been splashed out on an attacker who had been entrusted to fill Isak’s sizeable void.
The Bremen-born striker would cost an eye-watering £69m to pick up, with the German moving to St James’ Park just fresh off a blistering 13-goal season in the Bundesliga for ex-employers Stuttgart.
He hasn’t disappointed since relocating to English shores, either, with pundit Danny Murphy going as far as to say he makes “all the right decisions” under pressure.
Despite amassing just 11.5 accurate passes per Premier League match to date, the gigantic German is already demonstrating that the Midas touch he discovered at Stuttgart in front of goal has followed him to the Toon, with three top-flight goals tallied up from just four outings in the unforgiving league.
Further bagging a goal in the Champions League, it’s safe to say it has been a dream start to life in black and white for the 23-year-old, who has had to lead the line as Newcastle’s main marksman with Wissa sidelined through injury.
However, despite all his glowing praise, he may feel intimidated by Thiago potentially rocking up to Tyneside, based on the ex-Club Brugge attacker’s own red-hot form for Keith Andrews’ side.
Even before looking at their side-by-side numbers, the South American – despite coming in at 6-foot-2 next to his huge counterpart – has staggeringly won more duels on average this season, with 5.3 per clash, next to Woltemade’s four.
Games played
7
4
Goals scored
4
3
Assists
0
0
Touches*
26.6
26.5
Total duels won*
5.3
4
The table above only reinforces the notion that Thiago would be able to rival Woltemade for a starting spot if he were to join in a blockbuster January switch, with the 24-year-old managing to bag one more Premier League goal so far this season than his ex-Stuttgart rival, albeit from three more contests.
Thiago would also be unafraid to ruffle feathers and snatch the German’s starting spot from him, having had to take on the pressurised position of being Brentford’s standout attacker this summer, in the wake of Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa both departing the Bees.
It does feel somewhat unrealistic that Newcastle would go all in for Thiago, having already spent significant cash on the likes of Woltemade.
But, clinching a deal for the Brazilian as Wilson’s first signing would certainly start his sporting director tenure off on a spectacular note.