As Newcastle United navigates the post-Alexander Isak era with new, high-profile signings, a familiar question emerges from the shadows of football transfers: did the club let a proven goal-scorer slip through their fingers too soon?
A New Chapter at St. James` Park: Filling Isak`s Boots
The 2025/26 campaign marks a pivotal moment for Newcastle United. Following a highly successful 2024/25 season, which saw them lift the Carabao Cup and secure Champions League football with a fifth-place Premier League finish, the club faced an unexpected challenge: the departure of talismanic striker Alexander Isak. Isak, who bagged an impressive 27 goals across all competitions (23 in the Premier League), made his intentions to leave St. James` Park clear, forcing manager Eddie Howe and the PIF ownership into a significant reshuffle of their attacking line-up.
To address this void, Newcastle has invested heavily. Yoane Wissa, a £50 million acquisition from Brentford, arrives with a solid track record, having scored 19 goals in the previous season. While perhaps lacking Isak`s complete technical arsenal, Wissa promises a consistent presence in the final third. Further strengthening the front line is Nick Woltemade, a club-record £69 million signing from Stuttgart. Touted as one of world football`s most exciting young forwards, Woltemade`s 17 goals (12 in the Bundesliga) last season suggest immense potential, albeit with the caveat of needing to prove himself in the demanding Premier League.
The “Original Wissa”: Remembering Chris Wood
Yet, amidst the excitement for these new arrivals, a ghost from Newcastle`s recent past lingers – that of Chris Wood. Signed in January 2022 from Burnley for £25 million, Wood was part of the initial wave of transfers under the new PIF ownership, intended to bolster the squad and guide them away from relegation. Like Wissa, Wood was brought in as a seasoned Premier League campaigner, arriving at 30 years old with a reputation for consistent goal-scoring. Prior to his move to Tyneside, he had impressively hit double figures for league goals in four consecutive top-flight seasons at Turf Moor, netting 49 goals in 144 games for the Clarets – a remarkably similar strike rate to Wissa`s 45 goals in 137 league appearances.
However, Wood`s stint at Newcastle proved to be a difficult one. He was often described as looking “a bit lost” during his 39 appearances for the club, managing to score just five goals. The decision was made to move him on, paving the way for further investment in the attacking department, notably with the arrival of Isak. At the time, it seemed a pragmatic decision, clearing space and funds for a more dynamic forward. After all, football is a results business, and Wood`s contribution simply wasn`t matching the club`s burgeoning ambitions.
A Resurgence in Red: Wood Outshines Newcomers
What makes Wood`s story particularly poignant, and perhaps a source of quiet regret for Newcastle, is his incredible resurgence at Nottingham Forest. Under Nuno Espirito Santo, Wood found his stride, enjoying a sensational 2024/25 season that saw the Tricky Trees qualify for Europe. His prolific form resulted in a remarkable 20 goals across all competitions, a tally that surprisingly surpassed both Yoane Wissa`s 19 and Nick Woltemade`s 17 goals from the same season.
The towering striker, now 33, shows little sign of slowing down. He even kicked off the current 2025/26 season with a brace in Forest`s 3-1 victory over Brentford, hinting that his purple patch is far from over. This consistent output, especially after what appeared to be a decline at Newcastle, begs the question of whether Howe`s side may have been too quick to dismiss his capabilities.
Chris Wood`s Last 5 Premier League Seasons
| Wood`s Last 5 PL Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | Apps | Goals (Assists) |
| 25/26 (NFFC) | 3 | 2 (0) |
| 24/25 (NFFC) | 36 | 20 (3) |
| 23/24 (NFFC) | 31 | 14 (1) |
| 22/23 (NFFC) | 7 | 1 (0) |
| 21/22 (NUFC) | 18 | 2 (0) |
| 20/21 (NUFC) | 17 | 2 (0) |
The Unpredictable Nature of Football Transfers
The journey of Chris Wood underscores the unpredictable, often ironic, nature of football transfers. While the decision to sign Isak was undoubtedly a transformative one for Newcastle, elevating their attacking prowess, it inadvertently sealed Wood`s fate on Tyneside. His subsequent success at Nottingham Forest serves as a potent reminder that a player`s performance is often a complex interplay of fit, system, confidence, and opportunity. What might seem like a player “looking lost” in one setup can rapidly transform into a “towering talisman” in another.
For Newcastle, their new striking duo represents a bold, multi-million-pound gamble on youth and established Premier League talent. Yet, as Wood continues to find the net with impressive regularity, one cannot help but wonder if the Magpies might harbour a quiet “what if” about the New Zealand international – the prolific striker they once had, and perhaps, the one who is now outscoring their latest, most expensive hopes. Such is the fascinating, often frustrating, dance of football`s transfer market.
