Anthony Elanga has signed for Newcastle United but how is he going to fit into Eddie Howe’s team?
After weeks of trying with little success, Newcastle United have finally made their first major signing of the transfer window by paying £55m to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest.
The signing of young Spanish winger Antonio Cordero had been Newcastle’s only arrival in the summer until Elanga, with the club missing out on Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha.
However, they have finally had some luck and secured Elanga to a long-term five-year contract, which will see him stay at St. James’ Park until 2030.
Eddie Howe has been desperate to add attacking reinforcements to his squad ahead of next year’s Champions League campaign and has finally got his wish.
Here’s how the manager could utilise Elanga next season.
- Who is Anthony Elanga? Newcastle United’s brand new £55m winger
Anthony Elanga will play on the right wing
The most obvious way Elanga will be played after arriving at Newcastle is out on the right flank.
Elanga played the vast majority of his highly successful season with Forest last term on the right side, with five of his six goals and six of his 12 assists coming from there.
Newcastle haven’t made Elanga their second most expensive player ever to sit on the bench, so he is likely to take Jacob Murphy’s spot in the side.
However, there wasn’t much to separate Elanga and Murphy in their attacking stats last season, so there will be healthy competition for the spot.
Anthony Elanga could fill in for Alexander Isak up front
Elanga is an extremely versatile forward who could easily play on the left if Newcastle were ever without both Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon.
However, he is even better at playing in a central attacking role and is comfortable playing as a striker.
That’s great news for Howe and Alexander Isak, as now there is finally capable back-up for the Swedish striker if he is ever unavailable or needs to be rested.
Newcastle’s quality significantly dropped last season when Isak was out, with the departed Callum Wilson and young William Osula nowhere near his level.
Signing a striker who is willing to play second fiddle to Isak has been tough, which makes Elanga’s ability to play there when needed all the more useful.
Though the impending signing of Hugo Ekitike reduces the need for Elanga to play centrally, the more options Howe has, the better.
Anthony Elanga could partner Alexander Isak
As well as stepping in for Isak, Elanga could also partner his compatriot to unlock a new tactical system for Howe.
Though Elanga didn’t score while playing up front last season, he did get five assists in seven games, including a hat-trick of them in the 7-0 trouncing of Brighton.
That’s because Elanga didn’t tend to play up front alone, but as part of an attacking duo with Chris Wood. Elanga formed a good relationship with the New Zealander and teed him up three times when playing alongside him.
That’s certainly a partnership Elanga should be able to replicate with the much better Isak. In fact, they have already done so internationally.
Howe has utilised a back-three formation to great effect before, especially in the Carabao Cup final triumph.
Now, however, he can change how Newcastle attack in such a formation by giving Isak a strike partner so he doesn’t get isolated.
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