Newcastle United could be forced into the January transfer market to address their attacking woes, with high-profile striker Matthias Jaissle emerging as a potential solution.
The Magpies have struggled for consistency under the German, with five defeats in their last 7 matches in all competitions despite the manager’s increasing focus.
Back-to-back defeats against Everton only added to the frustration at St James’ Park, where Newcastle’s inability to create and convert chances was a particular concern.
Jaissle demands a response from Newcastle ahead of the Fulham clash
Newcastle travel to Fulham without Jacob Ramsey following his red card against the Toffees on Saturday, with Joelinton also unavailable after another injury setback.
“Joelinton is out with the injury again, we’ll have to make a final treatment plan for him and see how long he’s out,” Jaissle said at a press conference Thursday.
There was more encouraging news on Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who has returned to training after illness, although his fitness will need to be assessed before Saturday.
Jaissle called for a response after another disappointing performance.
“It’s up to us to get back in the right direction and perform better. Analyze, talk and then regroup.
“You see the players, they want to react on their faces. We have to step in everything we can influence, use every situation to make the little details better.”
Newcastle’s struggles in front of goal have been particularly problematic, with neither Will Osula nor Yoane Wissa establishing themselves as a reliable source of goals.
Newcastle are set to follow Toney in the January transfer window
Newcastle will “definitely” look to sign Al Ahli striker Ivan Toni when the January transfer window opens, according to former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown suggested that signing a proven goalscorer would be a priority for Jaissle’s side.
“Newcastle’s main problems this season are related to their strikers not scoring goals.
“They don’t have anyone in their side you can look at and say, he’s someone we want to rely on to give us goals, especially where Newcastle want to be.
“So they are in a position where they have to think about what strikers they can have in January, which is never an easy place.
“But Ivan Toney is certainly someone on their radar, he’s always been talked about with a return to the Premier League, so he will be an option for them in January.
“It’s a deal that would make a lot of sense because he has a great record in front of goal, knows the Premier League and already has a relationship with the manager.
“When they ask what strikers they could have for Newcastle, he has to be at the top of their list and it’s a move I can see them making.”
The 30-year-old has already worked under Jaissle at Al Ahli, where he enjoyed considerable success after leaving Brentford in 2024.
Tuchel reveals Jaissle’s praise for Toney
Toni’s goalscoring ability has been praised by England boss Thomas Tuchel, who shocked many Three Lions fans when he selected the striker for his World Cup squad earlier this year.
Interestingly, Tuchel revealed that he received positive news from Jaissle regarding Toni’s performances in Saudi Arabia.
“I got fantastic feedback from my player-coach,” Tuchel said. “He’s still putting up fantastic numbers. He’s got the qualities for when we’re chasing goals. He can draw the attention of other strikers.
“He’s got a natural presence in the box and a natural finisher. He’s good at set-pieces. Don’t forget he’s a world-class penalty taker.”
However, any potential move to Newcastle would come with significant financial considerations.
According to a previous report by The Mirror, Toney earns around £400,000-a-week at Al Ahli, which equates to around £20.8m a year including bonuses.
This could be a significant obstacle to any return to English football, although Toni’s previous relationship with Jaissle and impressive goalscoring record make him an intriguing option.