Pundit issues ‘mad’ Chris Wood transfer claim as Newcastle United update emerges
Newcastle United will not sell Chris Wood in January after a fresh setback for Alexander Isak.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the attacker’s future.
According to The Athletic (18 December), Wood is “unlikely” to feature in the “ambitious” future plans at Newcastle as they target Champions League qualification.
The report claims the Magpies rejected loan and permanent bids for the striker during the summer window and are anticipating more offers in the mid-season window.
As quoted by Craig Hope, Eddie Howe updated fans on Monday (19 December), to say that Isak, 23, remains sidelined and his recovery is being judged “day by day”.
McManus claims Wood will stay at St James’ Park as long as Isak is injured.
“Well, Newcastle aren’t going to sell Wood when their only other option is the injury-prone Wilson,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“That’s just not going to happen. I also like Wood. He does a job for Newcastle. He might not have the goals but he started a lot of games last season and really played a big role in helping the club stay up.
“People should remember that. He will also pop up with a goal if he gets in the right areas. He must be a nightmare to play against because of the size of him.
“He might not be glamourous but there are far worse strikers to have. Newcastle would be mad to sell him at the moment.”
Wood has started just two Premier League games this season and scored in the 4-1 rout of Southampton just before the World Cup.
He started back-to-back friendlies against Al-Hilal and Rayo Vallecano during the mid-season break.
In other news, Football Insider updates as Newcastle move to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk after PiF green light.