Sometimes, it is not about signing the right players but making the most of the ones that you have already got. Newcastle United have been handed a reminder of that today, as one of their former players is set to make one of the biggest transfers in British football history.
Newcastle United’s midfielder has been a topic of heavy discussion lately. Players like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes could be on their way out. Joe Willock has been tipped for a potential exit as well.
Interestingly, neither of them is expected to fetch a £116 million transfer fee. But that is exactly what one of their former players will be drawing, after the Magpies allowed him to leave for only a fraction of that figure.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Elliot Anderson to Manchester City is now ‘here we go’. The deal is in place between the clubs for a fee worth £116 million.
Elliot Anderson came through Newcastle United’s youth academy
That puts Anderson down as the most successful Newcastle United academy graduate in a long, long time. Unfortunately, it is not the Magpies reaping the rewards.
Some fingers will be pointed towards Eddie Howe as well, for not managing to identify the extent of Anderson’s qualities. He has certainly shown those in Nottingham Forest.
Even more impressive is the fact that Nottingham Forest spent most of last season trying to avoid relegation. So, one of their players drawing that kind of a transfer fee and establishing himself as a nailed-on starter for England at the World Cup is truly something unique.
Of course, it is hard not to regret how Anderson’s Newcastle United career turned out. The Magpies are not believed to hold any kind of sell-on clause either.
Newcastle United will need to sign a midfielder themselves
Newcastle United could have done with someone like Anderson at this moment, that is for sure. The Magpies could be about to lose some serious quality in the middle of the park this summer.
Tonali seems to be eyeing the exit door and Tottenham Hotspur have already made offers to sign him. Nothing has been agreed yet but when a club shows that kind of ambition, more often than not, they get the deal done.
It happened last summer with Alexander Isak. It is starting to feel pretty inevitable with Tonali as well. But on top of that, the Guimaraes exit rumours will worry the fans as well.
Expect Newcastle to try and sign some midfielders of their own over the coming weeks. They have already been linked with Lamine Camara of AS Monaco and Arthur Atta of Udinese.
