Newcastle United considered targeting Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa before instead signing Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak.
The Magpies wanted attacking reinforcements all summer but had to be patient.
Deals for the likes of Moussa Diaby and Jack Harrison just proved to be too expensive for Newcastle, who looked at both wingers and strikers.
In the end, Newcastle completed a club-record deal to sign Isak, raiding La Liga side Real Sociedad to sign their new striker.
Newcastle of course had other names on their wish list, and it turns out that Villa striker
Newcastle United considered targeting Ollie Watkins
The Athletic claim that three strikers other than Isak were highly-regarded inside Newcastle as they chased a centre froward.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ivan Toney were two names mentioned in Newcastle’s pursuit of a new striker.
Whilst those two were mentioned regularly in the summer rumour mill, one name that didn’t seem to get out was Ollie Watkins.
It’s suggested that Watkins ‘had admirers’ at Newcastle and he was seemingly considered before the Isak deal.
Watkins, 26, joined Villa from Brentford in a £33million deal back in the summer of 2020.
The former Exeter City striker has become a dangerous Premier League striker, notching 25 goals in his first two seasons in the top flight.
Watkins has had a slow start this term but with seven caps and two goals for England, it’s clear that he is highly-regarded.
Convincing Villa to sell was never going to be easy though, especially with Watkins still their leading striker ahead of Danny Ings and Cameron Archer.
Villa would have likely demanded hefty profit on the fee they paid for Watkins, probably taking any deal up to at least £45million to £50million.
Considering that Isak only cost around £10million more, you have to feel that Newcastle have gone with the right signing here.
Isak has the potential to become an absolute superstar, and whilst Watkins is a top striker in his own right, his ceiling just doesn’t come close to the Swede’s.
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