Howe’s transfer vision has given Newcastle United a new lease on life for their £100 million midfield.
Although Sandro Tonali was the headline signing of the summer of 2023 when he arrived on Tyneside, the Italian’s protracted ban prevented him from demonstrating his full potential.
The goal of the move was evident: Tonali’s departure from Milan represented the last cog in the midfield that saw Newcastle’s eagerly anticipated return to the Champions League. Unfortunately, Tonali’s suspension from all football-related activities put an early end to the midfielder’s impact in his debut season.
The midfielder’s return to the team will feel very much like a new addition, and there’s a good chance he can repeat his season-opening goal against Aston Villa, which made him known six minutes after making his debut. His return will also have a big influence on how this summer’s transfers are handled.
The 24-year-old’s return might result in less time spent elsewhere and possibly set up a series of moves that sees him link up with Anthony Gordon and Joelinton on the other flank. But some things are definite, particularly if Newcastle manages to hold onto their star players through the summer. These are the three effects of Tonali’s reappearance.
Howe finally getting first choice midfield
Though Newcastle undoubtedly got off to an overall slow start to their league form with the midfield trio of Joelinton, Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes only winning one of the four games they started together, it would be remiss to imagine any other combination would make up Howe’s ideal midfield three.
It was the selection United lined up with in the opening four Premier League fixtures of the season, before Joelinton spent a spell on the sidelines, and while three points from four fixtures feels far from ideal – the defeats came against a Brighton who picked up nine of their first 12 available points, Manchester City away and a last-gasp Darwin Nunez winner against Liverpool.
Once things start moving, Howe won’t doubt the potential that following this formula could bring. Joelinton and Anthony Gordon are proving to be a crucial duo on the left, and it remains to be seen how Tonali will feed off them on the right.
The summer transfer schedule
Even though Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy are solid Premier League players, Gordon’s production on the left seems to be a far cry from that of his opponent, the England international.
Yankuba Minteh has drawn attention during his loan stint at Feyenoord, but Howe faces a difficult decision regarding the Gambian winger, raising doubts about the player’s future at Newcastle. Due to a combination of circumstances, the majority of the fan base believes that a right winger is the position that has to be targeted this summer. Tonali might also benefit from having someone who enjoys getting in behind the defense.
Bryan Mbeumo has been heavily connected in the past month and appears to be a good match for the starting xi as well as the project overall. The 24-year-old, who has played for a lower division Brentford this season, has nine goals and six assists to his name. He is the kind of offensive player PIF has brought in thus far.
Minutes running out somewhere else and perhaps leaving
The minutes of others who have made up the midfield in Tonali’s absence would obviously decrease if he were to return to the starting lineup right away. Despite the terrible season of injuries, Lewis Miley showed himself to be a true talent, and only three Newcastle players played more minutes than Sean Longstaff’s 3123.
Considering how thin the team seemed during the previous season, it’s nearly astounding how much depth Newcastle has in the middle of the park—and this is before Elliot Anderson and Joe Willock are even taken into account.
In particular, Longstaff has shown his dependability and appears to be one of Howe’s favorites; he may occasionally go unnoticed as an unsung hero among the Geordie faithful. Although the sale of an academy player would result in “pure profit” on the balance sheet, the Englishman has been linked to a transfer away. This might be owing of PSR laws, but it could also be because of a potential lack of action if Tonali is to take up a significant portion of his minutes.
The 2023–24 season for Newcastle United is now finished. It was an eventful year marked by the club’s return to the Champions League, expensive additions, several injuries, and a protracted suspension for one of Eddie Howe’s main players. Our season review special documents and analyzes everything of it—the highs and lows, the games that broke records, and that amazing win over Paris Saint-Germain.
In-depth analysis, exclusive interviews with Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes, reviews of each month of the campaign, and several photo specials showcasing fans at home and on the road are all included in this journal.
Our authors select their best players, discuss the takeaways and where that incredible PSG victory falls in the history of United’s biggest European victories. You can get it in our online store here for just £3.50.
Read more on;https://sportupdates.co.uk
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