Eddie Howe hasn’t minced his phrases when quizzed on Newcastle United‘s curiosity of their former schoolboy Elliot Anderson, who was offered to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest for about £35m in 2024.
Now considered “among the best midfielders within the Premier League” by Three Lions supervisor Thomas Tuchel, Anderson is certainly turning into a star, and Newcastle need him again, pressured into cashing in to adjust to PSR rules.
However Manchester United are additionally recognized suitors, and Forest are set to demand in extra of £100m for his or her prized participant.
Newcastle want a centre-midfielder, although, and technical director Ross Wilson is centring on a shrewd different.
Newcastle pursuing new midfielder
Although Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are among the many most interesting midfielders within the sport, Joelinton is turning into a weak hyperlink, with Toon author Thomas Hammond claiming that is “the beginning of the tip” for the Brazilian.
The 29-year-old absolutely does not have far more mileage left within the tank, having run many laps across the St. James’ Park grass throughout the years.
The curiosity in Anderson is suggestive of Howe’s stance on the mainstay’s future, however there’s an alternate possibility within the pipeline for the PIF-backed facet.
Certainly, Italian outlet Tuttomercato, Newcastle are pursuing a January transfer for Roma midfielder Manu Kone, who has been instrumental within the membership’s blooming Serie A title cost this time period.
Reviews from the summer season declare that the Italians have positioned a €50m (£44m) price ticket on the 24-year-old, however United and PIF would absolutely strike gold, ought to they bring about him over.
What Manu Kone would carry to Newcastle
Kone has been at Roma because the begin of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, becoming a member of the membership from Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. He was a loanee final season however has since turn into a everlasting member of Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad.
A powerhouse of a midfielder, the 6 foot 1 Frenchman is limber however endowed with pure energy that permits him to carry out robustly within the engine room.
In addition to being a crisp passer, Kone can be expert as a provider, seeking to break strains.
As per FBref, he ranks among the many high 2% of Serie A midfielders this season for move completion and the highest 9% for profitable take-ons per 90. He repeatedly attracts fouls from lunging opponents.
A profitable take-on is recorded when a participant beats their opponent by instantly carrying the ball previous them whereas retaining possession.
That apart, Kone has additionally been hailed as a “one-man military” in midfield by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, owing to that energy and physicality in the midst of the park.
On this, he may very well be the proper participant to succeed Joelinton in Howe’s midfield, placing a stability between the totally different aspects of a profitable box-to-box position.
|
League Stats 25/26 – Joelinton vs Manu Kone |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per sport) |
Joelinton |
|
|
Matches (begins) |
10 (10) |
12 (12) |
|
Targets |
0 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
1 |
|
Touches* |
39.5 |
62.2 |
|
Correct passes* |
22.2 (82%) |
43.8 (92%) |
|
Probabilities created* |
0.5 |
1.0 |
|
Dribble (success)* |
0.2 (50%) |
1.2 (67%) |
|
Recoveries* |
3.4 |
4.7 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
2.7 |
2.0 |
|
Clearances* |
1.7 |
1.0 |
|
Duels gained* |
4.6 |
5.4 |
|
Errors made |
2x |
1x |
|
Information through Sofascore |
||
Joelinton has had a superb run in Howe’s midfield, but it surely’s time for ruthlessness to take priority: the membership have threatened to stagnate this time period, and a breath of contemporary air within the engine room might elevate the squad, reinforcing the backline and giving new help to the forwards.
His ball-carrying metrics have decreased considerably, and whereas he stays a combative and harmful pressure within the center, there is no query that the Brazil worldwide lacks the identical full-throttle power as as soon as earlier than.
Kone was thought-about a high expertise throughout his early-career days within the German Bundesliga, and whereas he has endured some ebb-tide moments in his profession, nobody can deny that he’s now blooming into a whole midfielder tailored for the Premier League.
PIF have signed an “explosive” expertise who can finish Gordon’s Newcastle profession
Newcastle United have already got an thrilling attacker up their sleeve who can finish Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies profession.
