Micah Richards believes Alan Shearer and everyone who supports Newcastle United should be ‘buzzing’ with one of their summer signings.
It was tough going for Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, and it took them time to finally get some fresh bodies in through the door.
Eddie Howe was forced to watch on in dismay as Newcastle missed out on a string of top targets, a situation that only grew worse when Alexander Isak made it clear he wanted to leave.
Anthony Elanga had arrived for big money from Nottingham Forest in July, but it wasn’t until much later in the transfer window that Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were brought in.
It ended up being Newcastle’s highest spending summer ever, with £260.4m outlaid on seven players, and the manager is already seeing green shoots of what his new look side is capable of.
Micah Richards has told Alan Shearer that he should be particularly buzzing about signing Elanga.
- Who is Anthony Elanga? Newcastle United’s brand new £55m winger
Micah Richards thinks Anthony Elanga is a great signing for Newcastle United
Newcastle have committed to paying as high as £55m for Elanga, who they signed from Nottingham Forest after his breakout season at the City Ground.
The rapid Swede picked up six goals and 12 assists in Forest’s remarkable campaign last term and Richards thinks he’s a big loss for the Midlands club.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Richards told Newcastle legend Shearer that he should be buzzing with the signing.
He said: “They lost Elanga, though, as well. That was massive. He got up that pitch within five seconds.
“That is a… Not a lot of people are talking about that. And you’ve got him now at Newcastle.
“You should be absolutely buzzing.”
Newcastle United are still waiting for the best out of Anthony Elanga
It’s been a promising start to life in the North East for Elanga, but he is yet to approach the dazzling and clinical form he displayed last season.
The 23-year-old has shown flashes of his immense ability and has already proven himself to be a useful outlet on the right flank, thanks to his electric pace that can see him carry the ball up the field in seconds.
Elanga was especially great against Barcelona as he ran the La Liga champions ragged and set up chances that Newcastle didn’t take advantage of.
Another fine performance of his came in the second Champions League game against Union SG, where he had a hand in the first two goals.
However, unless you count winning a penalty, after 10 games, he has yet to score or assist. Newcastle need him to start contributing tangibly in the final third so they can kick on and climb up the table.
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