Newcastle United are looking ahead to the future and trying to find a replacement for Joelinton, but while Elliot Anderson’s name keeps being mooted, there’s a much more affordable option that may be a better fit.
Eddie Howe is struggling to get the right balance in his Newcastle United midfield this season, and many have pointed to Joelinton as the potential problem in the side.
The fact that Joelinton missed out on an international call-up this month says it all about how the Brazilian man is not quite hitting the mark right now.
So, what does Howe need to do to fix things and turn the season around? The solution will cost some money, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t need to be that expensive.
Ederson is a cheaper, more effective option for Newcastle United
The simple fact of the matter is that any move for Elliot Anderson would be financially unwise, to say the least. Having sold the midfielder just last year for £35m, the Magpies could have to pay closer to £100m to bring him back.
As good as Anderson is, that would be a frankly ludicrous business decision. Instead, Newcastle should push ahead with a move for Ederson the Atalanta midfielder.
Ederson has been linked with Newcastle a lot in the past, even as recently as this month. With a market value of around £40m (as per Transfermarkt), he’s going to be a much more realistic and affordable option to bolster Newcastle’s midfield.
The Brazilian is more combative than Anderson and arguably more athletic, too. He’s also got a brilliant range of passing and technical ability that’ll help Newcastle tick in the middle of the park while ensuring they don’t lose any of the bite that Joelinton provides.
Eddie Howe doesn’t think Newcastle can spend big in January, which almost completely rules Anderson’s return out at this stage. However, a £40m move for Ederson, that could solve Newcastle’s midfield issues, would be money well spent.
What we know about Ederson’s transfer status
We know that just 10 months ago Atalanta wanted £42m for Ederson. He’s done nothing to bring that value down, apart from the fact his contract is almost a year shorter now.
Newcastle are not alone in their interest in the 26-year-old, though. Spurs have long been admirers of Ederson, and while they appear to be happy with Joao Palhinha right now, they could be tempted into moving for the Brazilian instead.
He’s been at Atalanta for more than three years now, and has been in Italy for almost four. Surely it’s time for him to move on to pastures new and we’d all love to see him strut his stuff in the Premier League.
There’s always a chance he could end up going to Spain instead, but Newcastle could and should make the first move and snap Ederson up in January.
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