Time for a big leap of faith from United...

AFTER LOSING OUT ON GUEHI, EKITIKE AND TRAFFORD, NEWCASTLE MUST NOW BE AGGRESSIVE IN THE MARKET

- JOHNGIBSON

WE were sitting amongst discarded coffee cups and fractured dreams discussing Newcastle United’s latest fast-moving transfer efforts to solve a momentous centre-forward problem.

I was chewing the fat with a former United scout who has worked in the business at top level for many a season and still has excellent contacts within the game.

Would Benjamin Sesko come? And would that mean Alexander Isak leaving?

A member of the faithful like all of us, and fully aware of how these things work at the factory face, he insisted: "United cannot afford any more rejections. They cannot finish second in a two-horse race yet again. They have to see off the opposition (Manchester United).

"And there's only one way to do that. If they want the player big time - and I think he is the perfect replacement - they must go back in prepared to pay over the odds if necessary. They must be proactive not reactive.

"They must convince Leipzig and Sesko of their intent by being aggressive, by blowing Man U away."

Within the blink of an eye United had lodged their second bid upping the ante from £68m to a staggering £78m with so much up front you could hear the groans of those delegated to transport the bounty onto the continent. A club record fee by a country mile. The biggest since, well, Isak.