Alexander Isak gets Liverpool move and Yoane Wissa hijacked - Newcastle's nightmare window

A first major domestic trophy since 1955, Champions League qualification, and a fan base rejoicing. If the 2024/25 season couldn't have gone any better for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle team, then the summer that followed couldn't have gone much worse.

Transfer targets Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, James Trafford and Benjamin Sesko have all slipped through the net in favour of joining Premier League rivals. Add to that Alexander Isak's refusal to represent the club as he tries to force a move to Liverpool, and Anthony Gordon's injury, and Howe could be forgiven for wanting to bang his head on a brick wall. The bad news for the manager is that there could be further blows from here.

Express Sport looks at how this nightmare can continue right until September 1...

Isak gets his £120million move

Liverpool's initial bid for Swedish star Isak, worth a potential £120m, was turned down by Newcastle. The club have insisted they want a massive £150m for their key man, which would make him the third most expensive footballer in history.

Now the North East club are between a rock and a hard place. Isak's behaviour has made a potential reintegration into the first-team squad almost inconceivable, and no sale could mean a disgruntled, unavailable star sitting on the books, picking up wages for nothing.

Fans fear this scenario, but Newcastle cutting losses and renegotiating a lower fee than wanted with Liverpool could soon be inevitable.

Wissa snared by Spurs

The news that Brentford have reached a deal to sign winger Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth has seemingly paved the way for Yoane Wissa to finally leave. Newcastle have already had one bid to sign him rejected this summer, and remain clear favourites for his signature.

And yet, as with Ekitike and Sesko, we've heard that script before this summer. It's worth noting that Tottenham not only has Wissa's former manager, Thomas Frank, on board but also considerable funds from the failed Morgan Gibbs-White deal.

Spurs making a last-ditch effort to scupper Newcastle wouldn't even be devastating for Newcastle fans anymore. It would just be deja vu.

Ending August in the drop zone

When you've had a wretched summer and remain desperate for signings, you probably don't want to be starting with a trip to Villa Park before facing champions Liverpool. Lose both, and fan discontent over transfers will become anger over results.

That would leave Howe's side facing a potentially crunch trip to newly promoted Leeds before the window closes. Getting last-minute deals over the line will be hard enough for club chiefs, and yet, it will be even harder if you're sat in the bottom three.