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Yoane Wissa will NOT make his Newcastle debut at former club Brentford this weekend, as was previously mooted.
Confidential can reveal that the timeframe on the striker’s comeback has been revised and, while the hope is he will be available not long after the international break, the exact date is unknown.
Wissa is said to be working well on the grass and is building up his fitness. His knee is feeling strong and, as such, there is no ‘injury’.
However, Newcastle want the 29-year-old to be ready to impact and impress when he does finally play. It would be seen as counterproductive were they to rush him back and his performances be way below his best level.
Rather, the hope is that Wissa’s work on the training ground, perhaps with a behind-closed-doors friendly, will leave him in a better place both physically and mentally, knowing he has the equivalent of a pre-season under his belt.
The player himself is said to be desperate to repay the faith and patience Newcastle showed by waiting six weeks over the summer before eventually signing him on deadline day for £55million.
Yoane Wissa is still yet to make his Newcastle debut, having suffered an injury on international duty days after his £55million move from Brentford
Wissa is said to be desperate to repay the faith and patience Newcastle showed by waiting six weeks over the summer before eventually signing him on deadline day
He injured his posterior cruciate ligament playing for DR Congo the following week and has now been sidelined for two months. It could be that early December is a more realistic target for his return.
In the meantime, Newcastle are set to receive a compensation payout from FIFA given the injury occurred on international duty. The club have made a claim as part of the Club Protection Programme (CPP).
The insurance scheme covers clubs whose players are injured playing for their country and are then unavailable for more than 28 consecutive days. It is understood the CPP will cover Wissa’s wages from October 7 until the day he plays for the first-team.
On the subject of international football, it seems increasingly unlikely that Wissa will play at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December and January. Discussions will take place over the coming weeks, but my sources believe a compromise will be reached in the best interests of the player.
Botman's camp come to the table
Newcastle have begun early discussions with Sven Botman’s camp over a new contract, but it could be a little while before an agreement is reached.
Relations between new sporting director Ross Wilson and the defender’s representatives are good and, for now, all is relaxed and positive.
Botman is happy on Tyneside and initial talks would suggest he is open to a new deal, with 18 months to run on his current terms. It is hoped progress will be made as the season goes on, but nothing is yet imminent or advanced.
The 25-year-old also wants to earn his long-awaited debut for the Netherlands national team. However, Confidential understands that will not come when Ronald Koeman names his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Lithuania on Friday.
Newcastle have begun early discussions with Sven Botman’s camp over a new contract
There is stiff competition and, even though Botman is doing all he can at club level, Koeman is sticking with those already in possession of the jerseys.
It could well be that Wilson, who worked with Koeman for two years at Southampton, has a word on Botman’s behalf!
Will Tonali stay or go?
On the subject of contracts, I reported last month that Newcastle did not know if Sandro Tonali wanted a new deal, and as such formal talks were not taking place.
It was also revealed then that the midfielder’s deal runs to, in effect, 2030, giving the club security should interest emerge next summer, which it almost certainly will.
The club are relaxed about Tonali’s comments regarding his future this week, and there is a feeling he was trying to give an honest answer when pressed on it.
‘I don't want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years, five years I will go,’ he said.
‘The last summer was tough for us, for Alex (Isak), but this is football. If you have an option for your life, for another team, you need to think about everything. I don't want to say, “Yes, I want to stay here 10 years”, but now I'm happy here. I don't think anything about another team.’
Should Tonali indicate he wants an improved deal, a lot will depend on the project Newcastle are delivering. To that end, until their Premier League position improves and Champions League qualification becomes more likely, discussions over his future will probably remain on an informal level.
The club are relaxed about Sandro Tonali’s comments regarding his future this week, and there is a feeling he was trying to give an honest answer when pressed on it
Copenhagen Krafth their move
FC Copenhagen are interested in signing Newcastle defender Emil Krafth, Confidential can reveal.
The Danish champions are said to be monitoring the 31-year-old’s situation and could make a move as early as January.
Krafth is out of contract in the summer and is a respected and valuable member of Eddie Howe’s squad. He is settled with his young family on Tyneside but a move back to Scandinavia could appeal if presented with the security of a longer contract.
The Sweden international would not be short of suitors were he to be a free agent come the end of the season.
Emil Krafth is one of Newcastle's longest-serving players, having joined in August 2019 and gone on to make 106 appearances for the club
The clue that something big is coming...
Newcastle will appoint a new finance guru to help them navigate Premier League and UEFA spending rules.
The club are ready to hire a technical accounting expert whose job it will be to advise on the accounting implications for all projects and proposals. This could indicate that a major project such as a new training ground is nearing announcement.
But chief executive David Hopkinson also wants the new employee to closely monitor the changes in spending rules that will impact the club. It will be their task to implement process improvements around matters like PSR.
Hopkinson is halfway through his 100-day review of the club’s internal workings. This week saw chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone placed on gardening leave ahead of taking up a role at Juventus.
Wilson bolsters the academy
Sporting director Wilson has spent time at the academy in recent weeks and it’s interesting to hear that they will be hiring two recruitment analysts.
Newcastle know that, to push back on the boundaries of PSR, they need to start producing more footballers who are sold for profit, even if they never make the first team. They have not done this well enough in recent years.
A new scout in London and Greater London will also be appointed as the recruitment drive to identify the country’s best players becomes an area of increasing relevance and investment.
Ross Wilson (right) is hiring two recruitment analysts to bolster the talent coming through Newcastle's academy
Toon Teaser
Finally, it’s Toon Teaser time. Last week, after Newcastle were drawn against Fulham in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, we asked you to name the SIX players who have played for both with a surname beginning in A, B or C?
The answers were: Philippe Albert, Peter Beardsley, Dan Burn, Paul Bracewell, Andy Cole and Lee Clark. And by the way, what a group of players that is!
This week’s question is… between 1950 and 2000, Newcastle played Brentford only twice in league fixtures, and that was in the second tier in 1992-93.
Name the four England internationals and three Republic of Ireland internationals who appeared for the Magpies during those games…
