Newcastle engaged on deal for £50m star

Newcastle United supporters will probably be crammed with aid after seeing Eddie Howe safe his first main signing of the summer time switch window.

A transfer for Anthony Elanga was lastly confirmed on Friday, however this deal has been weeks within the making.

The Swedish winger price the Toon round £55m, however Howe will probably be hoping that this price ultimately turns right into a cut price.

“Elanga is an thrilling expertise with attributes that make him a novel attacking menace,” stated Howe upon Elanga’s arrival at St James’ Park.

“His tempo, vitality and skill to create and rating targets will strengthen us and complement the best way we wish to play.”

Champions League soccer will take centre stage subsequent season and Howe will probably be aiming for his aspect to do higher than after they have been final within the competitors. Newcastle completed backside of their group throughout 2023/24, regardless of claiming a well-known 4-1 win over PSG.

With Elanga now signed, it must be the catalyst for the supervisor to land one other couple of signings within the coming weeks.

The previous Nottingham Forest star has loads of Premier League expertise, however what precisely will he supply the Magpies subsequent time period and past?

What Anthony Elanga will supply Newcastle

Since making the transfer from Manchester United to Forest in the summertime of 2023, Elanga has been on the forefront of their current success.

Throughout these two seasons, the winger has scored 11 targets within the Premier League, whereas chipping in with 20 league assists in that point.

He doesn’t simply supply a clear-cut menace in entrance of purpose both. In response to FBref, when in comparison with his positional friends within the Premier League final time period, Elanga ranked within the prime 3% for crosses (6.66) per 90, together with rating within the prime 10% for goal-creating actions (0.65) and within the prime 27% for carries into the opposition penalty space (1.73) per 90.

Whereas signing the 23-year-old is a lift for the group, plus giving Howe a wonderful attacking possibility for the following few years, was signing one other participant on this space a precedence for the membership?

Jacob Murphy was wonderful on the best flank final time period, tearing it up for the Magpies within the prime flight. Certainly, throughout 35 prime flight video games final season, the Englishman scored eight targets whereas recording 12 assists for the Magpies.

If evaluating him to fellow wingers Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, who registered 12 and 14 purpose involvements within the Premier League, Murphy was by far the best-performing large man within the squad.

After all, he will not be round eternally, and a few competitors could be very best, however by way of enchancment, the best flank shouldn’t be Howe’s precedence forward of subsequent season.

The defence is an space which requires strengthening, notably at centre-back and between the posts.

Howe is definitely making inroads to bolster each positions and he has been given an thrilling replace relating to a switch goal lately.

Newcastle’s seek for a defender

Marc Guehi nonetheless appears to be like like a goal, though it stays to be seen precisely how far Howe is ready to go to be able to signal him.

Elsewhere, Malick Thiaw and Leonardo Balerdi are each defensive targets, with Howe expressing curiosity in each centre-backs lately.

The one participant he seems to be most eager on is Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini. The Italian might be set to go away the Serie A aspect this summer time, however they’ve positioned a £50m price ticket on his head.

In response to The i Paper, the Toon have ‘carried out preliminary work on a potential deal’, however there are a bunch of golf equipment eager on securing his signature, together with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus.

Scalvini has reportedly said he’s intrigued by the prospect of taking part in within the Premier League, whereas additionally gushing about each the membership and supervisor when on worldwide responsibility of late.

Might this assist Howe get a deal wrapped up sooner reasonably than later? Solely time will inform.

Why Newcastle should signal Giorgio Scalvini

Newcastle should add a minimum of one centre-back to their squad this summer time. Final season, Howe primarily relied on Dan Burn and Fabian Schar. Each are wonderful gamers, however they’re each 33 and gained’t be round eternally.

Certainly, the one centre-back within the present squad who’s beneath 30 is Sven Botman, however he has missed 59 video games because the begin of the 2023/24 season.

As such, a transfer for Scalvini is a should for the membership. He missed the vast majority of final time period as a result of harm, however all through the 2023/24 marketing campaign, he was very good.

Hailed as a “prime expertise” by Fabrizio Romano in 2022 – in addition to a “world-class” centre-back by expertise scout Jacek Kulig – Scalvini ranked extremely throughout a spread of metrics in Serie A throughout 2023/24.

In comparison with his friends, he ranked within the prime 5% for profitable take-ons per 90, together with rating within the prime 11% for touches within the attacking penalty space, the highest 4% for interceptions and within the prime 16% for aerials gained per 90.

If he is ready to replicate these varieties of performances at Newcastle, then Howe would have landed a wonderful signing for the membership.

One of the best factor is, Scalvini has but to even attain his peak, indicating that the following few years may see the Italian defender solely going from power to power.

Though Howe has simply spent £55m on Elanga, there isn’t any doubt {that a} deal to signal the Atalanta starlet could be seen as a extra essential signing, particularly with issues in regards to the defence.

Scalvini has showcased his abilities in Europe earlier than, impressing in the course of the 2024 Europa League ultimate as his aspect defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0.

Performing within the Champions League will probably be a large step-up for the teen, but when he needs to take his sport to the following stage, that is the extent he must be taking part in at.

The subsequent few weeks will probably be fascinating for the membership. That a lot is definite.