Newcastle are 'The Undateables'

"Newcastle have become the football equivalent of 'The Undateables' this summer because of the amount of people they have tried to sign and been rejected by", says The Telegraph's Luke Edwards.

Manchester United hijacking the Magpies' bid for Benjamin Sesko is now the latest disappointment for Eddie Howe.

"It will hurt but it is just repeating what has happened all summer," added Edwards on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "They go in for elite targets but every time they do, one of the legacy big six comes in too and snaps them up.

"Sesko has been tracked by Newcastle for a number of years and so had Hugo Ekitike. They were both pursued long term and it's failed.

"Unfortunately, as good as Eddie Howe's side have been since the takeover, they are not seen as an elite club in the transfer market.

"It's another nail in the coffin because they have gone head to head in the transfer market and the player has decided against joining them.

"This has ramifications for Alexander Isak as well, but my understanding was that Sesko wasn't being signed as his replacement and they just wanted a second striker.

"I think the only way Isak would go is if they brought in two strikers and they can't even bring in one."

So why are Newcastle struggling to get players through the door this summer?

"Wages are a part of it because they have a wage structure but I think there is still a legacy aura around the big six," added Edwards. "Those clubs are still more attractive on a reputational perspective to players.

"There are also the structural issues of Newcastle not having a sporting director since Paul Mitchell walked out before the transfer window opened. Him leaving wasn't a surprise, but the timing of it caught everyone by surprise.

"Newcastle were too slow at the start of the window, were stuttering and in a strange paralysis."

Listen to the full discussion on the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds