Newcastle's Alexander Isak replacement option caused uproar and was forced to train alone - The Mirror

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Newcastle United may consider Samu Aghehowa as a potential replacement for Alexander Isak, though the striker has already been embroiled in his own transfer saga. The Magpies have previously been linked with the young Porto centre-forward.

The 21-year-old has become a lethal goalscorer since moving to Portugal from Atletico Madrid last summer. Aghehowa, formerly known as Samu Omorodion, netted 25 goals in 42 appearances last term and made his Spain debut last November.

Newcastle are hunting for strikers as the club seeks to strengthen their frontline and settle the Isak transfer situation. Aghehowa was presented to Newcastle before the summer transfer window, though the striker appeared destined to join another Premier League club a year ago.

Chelsea struck a £34.5million agreement for the forward, who had spent the previous season on loan at Alaves. Sky Sports reported that the transfer fell through due to contractual complications, which looked to also threaten Conor Gallagher's proposed switch to Atleti at the time.

The Spanish club had originally been hesitant to part with one of their brightest talents, rejecting an approach from West Ham and three earlier offers from Chelsea. That changed when Aghehowa sent a text message to senior club officials in June 2024, requesting to leave Atleti for the Premier League.

Spanish publication Relevo revealed that Aghehowa's message contained the sentences: "At this point in my career, I don't consider staying at the club the best option; I beg you to allow me to leave for other teams; The Premier League is my big dream."

Long-serving manager Diego Simeone was reportedly not pleased with Aghehowa's lack of commitment. This led to the striker being made to train separately from the first team squad before his move to Porto.

A few months after joining Porto, Aghehowa shared how he had felt isolated: "At Atletico, I trained separately," he said. "I didn't feel involved, not like a footballer. I trained, and my head told me no. I had a bad time. Many nights crying... my family and my mother had a terrible time."

Porto signed Aghehowa last August, including a hefty £82.5m release clause in his contract. However, after expressing his wish to leave Atletico, he claimed to have had no further contact with Simeone. He also accused others at the club of failing to address the situation.

"They're the ones who decide. If they didn't want me, it's because maybe they didn't think I was good enough," he said on COPE's El Partidazo. "It's not a good idea to talk about it either.

"They know what they did, and I'm calm. I'm never going to lie; neither Cholo nor anyone from the board spoke to me, only [director of football] Carlos Bucero."

Since joining Porto, Aghehowa has shown why he was so sought after. The striker netted twice in his team's opening 3-0 victory over Vitoria last Monday, as Newcastle continue their hunt for a new centre-forward.

The Magpies were left without a recognised striker in their stalemate against Aston Villa on Saturday. The club turned down Liverpool's bid for Isak, with the forward continuing to train separately from the first team and being left out of the matchday squad.

With Callum Wilson exiting the club, William Osula remains the only other striker in the Newcastle squad. Regardless of whether Isak stays or departs, Howe is keen to bolster his attacking options with another centre-forward before the transfer window slams shut.