Newcastle Confidential Q&A special: Which two shock Premier League stars could NUFC target after Anthony Elanga? Will Alexander Isak sign a new deal and take No 9 jersey? And will James Trafford sign this week?

Newcastle United are on the verge of their first signing of the summer with the £55million arrival of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest.

But will there be more? And who will they be?

We asked for your questions for this Newcastle Confidential Q&A Summer Special, and the response was fantastic - more than 150 replies!

So much so, we’ve had to break the questions down into broader subjects. The below should just about cover everything!

What is the latest with Alexander Isak’s contract? Will the club offer him the No 9 jersey?

There is a lot to unpack here when it comes to Isak’s situation. First of all, yes, the club will offer him the chance to take the No 9 jersey vacated by Callum Wilson. However, there is no guarantee he will take it.

Isak is a laidback character who does not place great stock on such things. He will not be knocking down the manager’s door asking for the shirt number, put it that way. Saying that, the club will be very keen for their star striker to carry the iconic number into the new season.

This, of course, is all dependent on Isak staying at St James’ Park. Is that likely? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No. I know that isn’t what supporters want to hear, but Isak’s situation is a little complicated.

There were preliminary contract talks in the spring of 2024 that would have seen Isak given a pay rise in recognition of his worth and ability. However, when there was a change in structure and personnel among the club’s hierarchy last summer, those talks were shelved.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell took the view that Isak had four years to run on his deal and was already very well paid. In a PSR world, it was a sensible business standpoint.

However, what that did not account for was the player’s feelings on the matter. Isak thought he was due a new contract and has spent the past 12 months on the same money as before. Well paid? Yes. Below what he could earn elsewhere? Yes, absolutely.

Outgoing CEO Darren Eales said earlier this year that contract talks would resume with Isak at the end of the season. To my knowledge, there has been no significant progress in that regard yet. It has all been very quiet.

Does Isak want a new contract? We don’t know. He is not ‘unhappy’ at Newcastle. He loves his team-mates, coaches, the fans and the city.

But he is 25-years-old, earning a wage below his market value and, if we’re being honest, playing at a club that will not be among the favourites to win the Premier League or Champions League this season. Isak knows he is good enough to compete for those trophies and, given he turns 26 in September, would be forgiven for wanting to do that now.

The Liverpool interest is real, but they need to generate the funds for a deal that would be extremely expensive, a British record of at least £150million.

Will that happen this summer? There is a chance, but I think the most likely scenario is that Isak stays for one more season and is given some financial reward around his contract. Newcastle do not want to sell him, either. The message is very clear - he is NOT for sale.

Does that mean Isak will sign a new five-year deal with no release clause and absolutely commit the best years of his career to Newcastle? I don’t think that is going to happen. A player’s career is short and Isak has given Newcastle three brilliant years. Players want to play at the very highest level that their ability allows.

A sale, though, needs a buyer and it could be that next summer is more likely in that regard. But should Newcastle go and win the Premier League…

What is happening with a replacement for Callum Wilson?

With Anthony Elanga set to sign this week (more on that below) the recruitment priority will switch to a striker. Newcastle know they can’t be left in a situation like last season when, without Isak, they failed to win a single game.

This is also a season of at least 48 matches and most likely close to 60. They need two good strikers to manage that load.

Newcastle would have paid the £50m-plus for Brighton forward Joao Pedro. They knew of Chelsea’s interest all along, but took the view that Chelsea are interested in most players and it was worth going through the formalities just in case it became a one-horse race. It didn’t and the Brazilian has moved to Stamford Bridge.

Pedro, 23, would have been an excellent signing given his profile and versatility. Newcastle knew there are very few like him and that is why the new search is difficult.

Here are two new names who I understand have been discussed in the past fortnight - Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

The problem is, they would both be fairly costly and, given their age (Wissa is 28 and Watkins is 29), there is little resale value. Would Watkins, in a World Cup year, want to join a club where Isak is No 1?

That is the conversation Newcastle need to have with all targets in this department. You would hope that the lure of the Champions League, working under Eddie Howe and the promise of game-time given the sheer volume of game-time would give Newcastle a chance of persuading those players to join.

I would keep a close eye on the Wissa situation. I know he has admirers within St James’ Park and is also versatile enough to play on the wing.

Then there is Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The 28-year-old is a free agent after leaving Everton and Newcastle do like him. As of today, I understand there has NOT been any contact or talks. Could there be? Yes, it’s not being ruled out.

He is an option, but I don’t think he’s at the top of the list right now. Again, this is one to watch. Howe has always seen the potential in Calvert-Lewin and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was explored at some point, even though the word I’m getting back is that nothing is imminent or active.

The ideal would be signing a younger player in the profile of Pedro. William Osula, meanwhile, will remain as a back-up option and will be given another year to develop.

What is happening with the new sporting director?

Interviews are taking place and the two leading names we have reported for a month now are Nottingham Forest’s Ross Wilson and former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto.

Nolan Partners have led the recruitment search and, to answer a few of you, I understand Eddie Howe has been consulted as part of the process, as the head coach should be. Paul Mitchell’s appointment last summer was without his knowledge and we all know how that played out…

Liverpool’s Julian Ward was also spoken to but he has withdrawn from the running, leaving Wilson, Ayto and talk of a third candidate, as yet unknown!

I would not expect an imminent appointment, as in someone who comes in and takes over transfer business this window. The structure of Eddie Howe, Steve Nickson and Andy Howe is now in place and they will oversee the bulk of this summer’s business. 

However, a decision on the new man should not be too far away and there is a hope that, this time, all are on board with the direction of travel.

Will Tino Livramento be sold to Manchester City?

No! City’s interest is genuine and it remains. My sources in Manchester say they’d go to at least £65m for the defender. The word back from Tyneside? Not even £165m would be enough!

Newcastle know Livramento is as good as irreplaceable, given his age profile and versatility, not to mention his ability and huge scope for improvement. There is also a feeling that young players like Livramento and Lewis Hall know that they’re best off under Howe’s tutelage at this stage in their career.

What is happening with James Trafford?

OK, deep breath. This one has been 12 months in the making and I’m expecting a resolution one way or the other this week. There is an acceptance it cannot go on for much longer.

Where do we stand? Newcastle and Burnley remain apart on valuation. I’m hearing there were fresh talks this week that did not find a resolution.

Trafford wants to join Newcastle and has done since last summer. Newcastle want the 6ft 6in 22-year-old to come in and compete with Nick Pope. Burnley want to extract maximum value for a young England goalkeeper.

The last I heard, the clubs were still £8-10m apart with regards the figures. Burnley want north of £30m. There is hope that a compromise can be reached and I’ve been convinced for a long time that this deal will happen. However, the longer it goes on without an agreement, the more that belief fades.

Keep an eye out for updates this week.

Will John Ruddy stay?

Yes. Do not underestimate the value and influence of Ruddy behind the scenes. I’ve heard so many good things over the past 12 months.

Bruno Guimaraes is a brilliant captain, but he’s unlikely to take a team-mate of a similar age to one side to offer advice on some of the problems footballers can run into. Ruddy can and has done that. As a third-choice goalkeeper, I think he’s extremely valuable. Managers need such figures in their dressing room.

As for outgoings in this department? Yes, I’d expect to see Odysseas Vlachodimos leave on loan and, if Trafford does arrive, a possible move away for Martin Dubravka. For now, the No 1 and No 2 remain Pope and Dubravka. I’m told Pope will be going nowhere, despite interest from Leeds among others.

If Sean Longstaff leaves, will they sign a replacement midfielder?

Longstaff looks set for Leeds in a deal worth around £12m and that is a fair and sensible outcome for both player and club.

I’ve taken a little bit of stick for being a defender of Longstaff in recent seasons. I have seen his worth over the years and that has been supported by results with him in the team. But he did not have a great season last time around and the time feels right for a fresh start.

There have been times when the club could, and should, have shown him a little more love. Still, he would leave with the well wishes of all. He has been a fantastic player and contributed to some iconic moments.

As for a replacement, it will be explored, for sure. There is a feeling it would be difficult to sign a midfielder to improve upon a first-choice three of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, and staff are expecting Lewis Miley to have a big season. Then there is Joe Willock, who could be transformed if coming through pre-season without any injury setbacks. That is a very good stable of five midfielders.

Newcastle like Jack Rudoni at Coventry. There is a feeling the 24-year-old is the best player outside the Premier League - this is shared by many scouts I’ve spoken to - and he will be on the list of potential midfield options.

But I also think Newcastle will prioritise other areas first and see how the land lies with their midfield a little down the line.

Is centre back one of those priority areas?

Yes. What I can say is that the interest in Marc Guehi has receded over time and alternatives have been explored. If, however, Crystal Palace’s asking price was to represent value, a move could be revived.

Right now, though, there is no movement on this position, and reports of offers for various players have been premature. 

I do know that Newcastle admire both Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi and Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini. It could be that approaches are made for one or both of this pair in the coming weeks. For now, the focus is on completing the Elanga deal and finding a striker.

And finally, Elanga is definitely happening, yes?

Yes! By the time you’re reading this column, he should be landing on Tyneside from Faro in Portugal, where he has been training on his own.

The £55m deal between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest was never the issue. Rather, it was complications over the agents representing Elanga which caused a hold-up.

That was resolved on Monday and it’s all systems go for Newcastle to land their first signing of the summer, and first of significance for nearly two years.

Let us hope it’s more like two weeks until the next!