Newcastle United are looking to make more additions in the summer transfer window after confirming the signing of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, but a new update will have Eddie Howe livid.
After waiting almost two years, the Magpies finally made a major signing ahead of a busy season, including a return to the Champions League.
Anthony Elanga has signed for Newcastle United for a fee of £52million with £3million in add-ons, making him the third most expensive player in the club’s history.
The 23-year-old winger was a player Eddie Howe had been desperate to sign after multiple failed approaches, with the right wing being a problem position ever since his arrival in 2021. Newcastle want to sign a striker after Elanga, and recent reports have stated that Howe’s recruitment team spoke with Hugo Ekitike’s agent to inform him of their eagerness to bring him to Tyneside.
Howe is eager to improve several other positions like goalkeeper and centre-back, and will also target a central midfielder if Sean Longstaff leaves this summer. Reports have linked Newcastle with a Championship ace who looks ready for a Premier League move, but some early business by Sunderland could now see them spending much more than they expected.
Newcastle United target Jack Rudoni could cost up to £30m this summer
With Longstaff attracting serious interest from Leeds United, Newcastle are now looking at who could replace him. One name who has popped up is Coventry City’s Jack Rudoni.
Reports in May stated Newcastle were interested in Rudoni, who played a big part in Coventry’s rise to the Championship play-offs last season. The Sky Blues fell short in the end, but that has not deterred the Magpies from keeping tabs on the 23-year-old.
Frank Lampard is a big fan of Rudoni, and it looks like Newcastle will have to pay a significant transfer fee if they are to sign him this summer.
According to the Chronicle, Coventry are likely to demand up to three times Rudoni’s £10.4m valuation, so Newcastle could be forced to fork out as much as £30m for the player.
The report states that Jobe Bellingham, who moved from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund for a similar fee, has set the bar for a talented young midfielder moving on from the Championship.
Had the deal for Bellingham not gone through, it appears Newcastle could have been paying significantly less for Rudoni.
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Newcastle United could sign La Liga star for £36m instead of Jack Rudoni
While Newcastle are clear admirers of Rudoni, they are likely not willing to pay such a high transfer fee for him. As well as that, it has been stated that Rudoni is happy at Coventry, enjoys working with Lampard and is not actively seeking a move away this summer.
His stance means Newcastle are likely to pursue other targets. Howe will have a long list of players he would like on Tyneside, and reports have suggested that Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher could be one of them.
Reports in Spain stated Gallagher will cost at least £36m this summer, but Howe will likely be happier to pay that much for a player with Champions League experience than an up-and-coming Championship star.
Newcastle fans think signing Gallagher is brilliant business, but Longstaff needs to be sold before any replacements can be brought in.
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