Ross Wilson handed major Newcastle United task amid dying Elliot Anderson dream

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If Ross Wilson had a blank chequebook, he would probably bring Elliot Anderson back to Newcastle United.

That is on the Magpies’ wish list, with Newcastle United interested in re-signing Elliot Anderson after selling him to Nottingham Forest in 2024.

However, that is going to be extremely difficult for financial reasons. It is reported that Anderson is valued at £100million, with that price tag ending all realistic talk of a return to Tyneside for the England international.

Instead, new Toon sporting director Ross Wilson is being tasked with changing the way that Newcastle United do their transfer business.

• Who is Ross Wilson? Meet the transfer guru who is Newcastle United’s new sporting director

Ross Wilson set to change Newcastle United’s transfer strategy

A big part of Wilson’s role as sporting director is player recruitment and the strategy that surrounds it.

That is where change is coming, with the i Paper providing details of one of Wilson’s first major jobs since arriving at St James’ Park.

They report that the 41-year-old is set to evolve the club’s transfer policy away from their current model.

The i Paper state that the club will look to take more calculated risks in the transfer market, bringing in high potential players from emerging markets who can develop into superstars at Newcastle United.

That will be balanced against the club’s ‘short-term needs’, as there will remain a necessity to bring in players who can have an almost immediate impact in black and white.

Newcastle are interested in signing Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar, and the fact he is a target represents the shift in approach that Wilson is trying to implement.

The 19-year-old has a lot of potential, which is why the Magpies are looking to snap him up now.

Newcastle United need more signings like Yankuba Minteh

Since the PIF takeover, there has been an attempt to bring in talented youngsters who can blossom into first-team stars. However, there has not been a lot of success.

There was huge excitement when Newcastle bought Garang Kuol, but he left the club this summer without making a competitive appearance.

There have also been the arrivals of Antonio Cordero, Vakhtang Salia and Miodrag Pivas, but it is unclear if they will become members of the Newcastle United first-team squad.

In truth, the only youngster who the Magpies have bought who has amounted to anything so far is Yankuba Minteh. Ironically, it is away from St James’ Park that he is blossoming, having been sold to Brighton for £33million amid the 2024 PSR debacle.

But what Newcastle did differently with Minteh compared to the aforementioned players is invest a significant sum. The winger cost Newcastle £6million, which was a lot of money for a teenager playing in Denmark.

That investment paid off, as he was sold for five times the initial cost.

Newcastle took a calculated risk with Minteh, and it paid off – albeit not how they thought it would. Regardless, it is the blueprint that Ross Wilson will look to follow, as Newcastle aim to alter their transfer approach.