Darren Bent says Newcastle United made a genuinely ‘great signing’ this summer

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Newcastle United are yet to have seen the real impact of their summer transfer business. 

A difficult transfer window ended up with Newcastle making six major signings during the 2025 summer transfer window. 

While Newcastle look to be in a much better position than they were last season in terms of squad depth, only time will tell about how good their additions actually were. 

Indeed, while Nick Woltemade made a promising start to his career on Tyneside by scoring the winner on his debut against Wolves, the German has since had his minutes managed.

Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey are injured, while Aaron Ramsdale is very much second-choice in goal as things stand.

Malick Thiaw has impressed of late and though there have been flashes from Anthony Elanga, he’s yet to consistently prove he’s worthy of a place in the pecking order ahead of Jacob Murphy. 

Pundit and former England striker Darren Bent, however, sees a promising future for the Sweden star. 

• Who is Anthony Elanga? Newcastle United’s brand new £55m winger

Darren Bent praises Newcastle United’s move for Anthony Elanga 

Elanga recorded 11 Premier League assists for Nottingham Forest last season and, at 23, clearly has scope to develop. 

Eddie Howe, having done it so often before, will no doubt be confident in his ability to yield an improvement out of the former Manchester United youngster. 

To the player’s credit, he put in a fine showing during the first half of Newcastle’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona and may have racked up a couple of assists had it been for better finishing from the likes of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. 

These are early days in his Newcastle career and Bent certainly sees reasons for optimism.

He told talkSPORT: “They’ve also signed Yoane Wissa, but he’s been injured.  

“Elanga, great signing, Jacob Ramsey, so they’ve in you know what they’ve invested they brought in Aaron Ramsdale, a goalkeeper obviously, a friend of the show. So, I do think they’ve invested and you quite like the signings that they’ve made like really good signings.” 

Eddie Howe defends Anthony Elanga after Newcastle United criticism

Newcastle paid an initial £52million to sign Elanga and the deal could rise as high as £55million if the criteria for various add-ons are met. 

With that in mind, they need to see a return on their investment at some point.

While Elanga cannot be absolved of any criticism whatsoever, it’s not been easy for him. For most of his Newcastle United career to date, he’s been playing without a striker to bounce off. 

Speaking ahead of Newcastle United’s clash with Arsenal on Sunday, Howe moved to defend his player from criticism.  

“It’s harsh to say he’s got no goals or assists,” he said. 

“Statistically, that is right. But you look at the chances he has created and sometimes it’s not on him that players he has served haven’t scored. I always think that is a tough one.”

The Newcastle United manager added: “He has done his job several times but it hasn’t ended up in a goal. I have been really pleased with his general contribution and he’s looked a threat. 

“You see what strengths he will bring. He has that raw pace and power that is so difficult to defend against. But I think he can get better and improve and we can help him do that as we continue to work with him.”

Elanga will hope to start for Newcastle against the Gunners on Sunday, although Murphy offers fierce competition.