Dan Ashworth has admitted that he gets more joy out of watching Elliot Anderson play for Newcastle than signing a ready-made superstar.
The Toon Sporting Director has been doing the media rounds, and namechecked Anderson in an article with the Athletic.
Ashworth spoke about Newcastle’s position in the transfer market, and admitted that they will not be able to continue splashing out huge sums of money. The club have spent more than £200million over the past two transfer windows, and he believes that is ‘unsustainable’.
One way of avoiding spending so much money on players is to boost the club’s academy. That means we can develop and grow our own talent.
There is no greater example of that right now at Newcastle than Anderson, and Ashworth has spoke about the Toon teenager.
Ashworth on Anderson
In an interview with the Athletic, Ashworth spoke about the club’s academy and the joy he gets from seeing the 19-year-old play for the first-team.
“One of the beauties of the academy is it’s outside FFP,” he said.
“I get more pleasure out of Elliot Anderson coming in and making his debut than signing a ready-made 29-year-old. There’s no better way of getting that than investing into our academy.”
Anderson can be Newcastle’s posterboy
It has been a real joy to watch Anderson play for Newcastle this season. He was a star during pre-season, and forced his way into Eddie Howe’s first-team.
Now he is getting more regular minutes off the bench, and has even signed a new contract with the club. And he is a shining example of what Ashworth wants the academy to become.
Anderson hasn’t cost us any money. He is a product of the club and has gone from academy star to Premier League player. He will save Newcastle millions in the transfer market – especially if goes on to establish himself in the starting XI.
Ashworth will hope that more players follow Anderson into the first-team. He has already brought in various youngsters, with Garang Kuol set to arrive in January. There is also talk about 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos. He could cost more than £25million, but he could end up costing double once he establishes himself at a top European club.
That is why Newcastle want to move early in the transfer market. They want to collect a pool of talented youngsters at an early age who can go on to become Premier League stars.
The academy is a big part of Ashworth’s role at Newcastle, and he is taking great joy out of seeing Anderson strut his stuff in black and white.
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