Newcastle United fans are understandably very excited about the arrival of Anthony Elanga.
The 23-year-old is on his way to Tyneside, with Newcastle United agreeing a deal to sign Elanga from Nottingham Forest. He will cost an initial £55million, rising to £60million with add-ons.
He will hopefully be the missing piece of the Newcastle United jigsaw, as Eddie Howe finally gets set to sign the right winger he has needed for years.
That puts pressure on Anthony Elanga to deliver, but the club must have supreme confidence in his ability. After all, this is the third time they have tried to sign him after failing twice in 2024.
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Anthony Elanga seen as ‘perfect’ for Newcastle United
Elanga is excited to work with Howe, while a claim from within the Newcastle United camp sums up why this deal makes so much sense.
According to the Telegraph, a Newcastle United source has described Elanga as the ‘perfect Eddie Howe player’.
That is why the Magpies are prepared to spend so much money on Elanga. He is set to become one of Newcastle’s most expensive signings ever, with a total fee of £60million putting him second between Alexander Isak (£63million) and Sandro Tonali (£55million).
Given how Elanga is viewed internally at St James’ Park, there will be confidence that it will prove to be money well spent.
Chris Wood’s comments on Anthony Elanga should be music to the ears of Alexander Isak
Signing a right winger is difficult for Newcastle, as they need someone who can provide similar qualities to Jacob Murphy. As a right-footed right winger, he has created so many goals for Isak.
That is a dynamic that the Magpies cannot lose, even if Murphy is not playing. Fortunately, Elanga is right-footed too and also has chemistry with Newcastle’s main striker from their time in a Sweden shirt.
The former Manchester United attacker is a striker’s dream, as summed up by Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood.
The ex-Newcastle United striker spoke about Elanga back in February, highlighting how good his delivery is.
“He’s [Elanga] so good at taking out his opposite number and then finding me,” he told L’Equipe.
“We’ve developed a great partnership; he anticipates my movements and I his.
“The three attackers who most often start alongside me, Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi, give me excellent balls. They’ve integrated perfectly into the system imagined by Santo.”
Rather than supplying chances for Wood, Elanga will now be doing it for Isak. That is a tantalising prospect, as Eddie Howe gets set to land his ‘perfect’ player.
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