It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say this summer is turning into something of a disaster for Newcastle United.
The Magpies should be looking forward to a season of Champions League football and possibilities for more silverware, but instead are embroiled in a transfer saga involving Alexander Isak.
On top of that, Eddie Howe and Co have had to watch the club seemingly miss out on target after target in recent weeks, with it now not entirely clear what is happening regarding Benjamin Sesko.
However, perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom, as the League Cup champions have done some business, and it now looks like they’re planning to go back in for one international who could be something of another Anthony Elanga.
Newcastle target another Elanga
While there is plenty to be worried about from a Newcastle fan’s perspective this summer, it is worth noting that the club have conducted some promising business, such as getting Aaron Ramsdale in on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
Transfer Focus
The Englishman may have his detractors, but for two years at Arsenal, he was brilliant and played a big part in the Gunners’ surprise title push in the 22/23 season, pulling off some notable saves in games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
On top of that, the club have also got their hands on Elanga, and while it would be fair to say pre-season has been mixed for the Swedish international, we all saw how effective he could be last season when he ended the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in 43 appearances for Nottingham Forest.
Interestingly, with just under a month until the transfer window slams shut, the Toon look set to go back in for one of their previous targets, someone who could be described as another Elanga.
At least that is according to a recent report from the Times, which claims Newcastle are interested in Marc Guehi again.
The report has revealed that the Crystal Palace star, who is valued at around £50m, is now back on the menu for the Magpies, and that they could finally go in with a fresh bid at any point in the coming weeks – although they do not want to spend more than £40m.
It would be another significant investment from the club, but the Englishman has proven his worth over the years, and there would be an Elanga-esque quality to the deal.
Why Guehi would be an Elanga-esque signing
So, before we get into a few reasons why Guehi would be an excellent signing for Newcastle in his own right, it’s worth going over why his arrival would be reminiscent of Elanga’s.
The first is that, like the Swede, the Englishman would be moving to St James’ Park from another Premier League side, and not just that, but one set to compete in Europe next season.
Moreover, while it’s not entirely clear just how much the Palace ace will cost at the moment, the likelihood is that the final price will not be too far off the £55m the Toon paid for the Malmo-born winger.
Lastly, like former Manchester United prospect, the Eagles star defender had to leave one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ sides early in his career to really gain a foothold in English football and make a name for himself, and make a name for himslef, he certainly has.
That brings us to arguably the most crucial reason the 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to Howe’s squad, which is his vast experience.
Appearances
216
23
Goals
8
0
Assists
4
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.05
0.08
Despite still being relatively young for a centre-back and around two years off from hitting his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the “exceptional” star, as dubbed by former goalkeeper Joe Hart, has now made 216 senior club appearances across his stints with the Eagles, Swansea and Chelsea.
On top of that, the former Blues gem has also won 23 caps for England and was a key member of the squad that made it to the final of the European Championships last season.
Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Newcastle should once again push the boat out to sign a player previously discarded by the ‘big six’ as Guehi looks like he has everything needed to elevate their backline next season.