Newcastle United have spent £175m in just over a year trying to replace Alexander Isak, with the new forwards contributing almost nothing, as the club prepares for a crucial Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Magpies have fallen from grace after recent trophy success, while Palace have enjoyed an even more remarkable rise, winning the FA Cup in 2025, the FA Community Shield against Liverpool, and this year's UEFA Conference League. Both clubs have since lost their trophy-winning managers, Eddie Howe and Oliver Glasner, and are now looking nervously over their shoulders.
Palace sit a point and three positions behind 11th-placed Newcastle in what is their club record 14th successive top flight season. Two teams in no-man's land but looking down rather than up.
Dismal record for Isak replacements
The staggering £175m outlay includes Nick Woltemade at a club record £69m, Yoane Wissa at £55m, and Matias Fernandez-Pardo at £51m. Wissa has scored just two Premier League goals for Newcastle and has one goal in nine appearances this season, while Pardo has yet to score. Woltemade has been cast aside on loan in Italy.
Newcastle spent well north of £250m on eight new players in the summer, with Aladji Bamba costing £30m but rarely seen, and Baz Toure at £42.8m appearing almost exclusively off the bench. Even Nico Gonzalez (£47m) has struggled to live up to his Manchester City reputation.
In total, United coughed up £265.3m in replacing the blue-chip deserters, which will rise to £291m if all the add-ons are reached - something that appears distinctly unlikely on current evidence.
Jaissle under pressure
Matthias Jaissle is said to have had a 7am call with CEO David Hopkinson on the players' day off, and has consulted with his squad over his physical demands with high press tactics. The German varied his team structure at Al-Ahli when they hit a rocky period while broadly still adhering to his 4-2-3-1, and it sparked an immediate upturn in fortunes.
United paid £9m in compensation to bring in Jaissle, who they called "a rock star", and they will for now not waver believing he can turn things round. However, patience can last as long as the next result.
Dan Burn could return at Crystal Palace as soon as the medical staff allow him to permanently take off the cotton wool padding. There is also a case for Fabian Schar, the 30-something veteran, whose presence and ability to pass long as well as short could bring as much to the cause as some younger players.
Opposition in similar trouble
Ironically, Palace's new boss Pierre Sage is in the same boat as Jaissle, rowing furiously against the tide. He is accused of adopting a tactical system that doesn't suit the players, with a front foot high press attack which leaves them easy to pick off, and they have leaked an incredible 17 goals, the highest number in the Premier League.
Sunday is the prime time for Newcastle to launch a recovery mission before they face Arsenal and Brighton back to back. The question remains whether they are good enough to take it.
