Newcastle United shall be hoping for a robust run of kind over the festive interval. The Magpies have had a poor begin to the season, languishing in 12th place within the Premier League after 15 video games, with simply 20 factors to their title.
Definitely, Eddie Howe is likely to be disillusioned with the performances of some of his players in front of goal. Not all of his attacking stars have carried out, with Alexander Isak the one participant to interrupt the ten objective involvement mark to this point. Worryingly, centre-back Fabian Schar is their third prime scorer in all competitions.
Magpies supporters will certainly be determined for the efficiency ranges of a few of his gamers to choose up quickly. Another person who has underwhelmed when he has performed is Miguel Almiron.
Almiron’s stats this season
It has been an extremely poor marketing campaign to this point for Paraguayan winger Almiron. The 30-year-old has been devoid of alternatives this time period, playing just eight games in all competitions, and beginning as soon as within the Premier League.
The previous Atlanta United man has performed simply 270 minutes in all competitions to this point this time period. That features 19 minutes within the prime flight, with 68 of these coming in his solely begin away to Chelsea. Even when the winger will get an opportunity, he fails to impress; Almiron has but to attain or help in 2024/25.
It would certainly be a priority for Howe that Almiron just isn’t contributing. Though his function may be very a lot as a squad participant, he has proven prior to now that he can chip in with targets and assists, together with scoring 11 instances in 34 Premier League games in 2022/23.
Howe shall be hoping that Almiron, as soon as the Magpies’ most costly signing at £21m from Atlanta United, can rediscover his finest kind.
Nonetheless, with restricted alternatives, it looks like the winger might depart the membership, with Newcastle – backed by the Saudi PIF -already specializing in a alternative from inside the Premier League.
Newcastle’s seek for a winger
The participant in query right here is Nottingham Forest man Anthony Elanga. According to a report from journalist Joel Bland, “it’s fairly possible there will be a push made” to signal the Swede in January, ought to Almiron depart. Bland states that Newcastle “retain curiosity” within the participant after eager to signal him in the summertime.
At this stage, it’s unclear how a lot he would value, however a bid of £50m from the North Jap aspect was turned down on the ultimate day of the summer season window. He might cost around the same price as Newcastle’s different right-wing goal, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Curiously, he and Elanga are statistically similar on FBref, exhibiting precisely what Newcastle’s pondering is when focusing on a brand new right-winger; highly effective runners who’re inventive within the ultimate third and powerful ball carriers.
When it comes to that statistical comparability, each gamers have spectacular ball-carrying numbers. Elanga averages three progressive carries per 90 minutes, with Mbeumo barely fewer with 2.82.
The pair will carry a inventive affect within the ultimate third, with the Nottingham Forest quantity 21 taking part in 1.67 key passes every recreation, and the Cameroonian winger barely extra, at 1.74 per 90 minutes.
|
Elanga & Mbuemo key stats 2024/25 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90) |
Elanga |
Mbeumo |
|
Progressive carries |
3 |
2.82 |
|
Carries into ultimate third |
1.89 |
1.74 |
|
Carries into penalty field |
1.78 |
1.41 |
|
Key passes |
1.67 |
1.74 |
|
Passes into ultimate third |
0.78 |
1.41 |
|
Passes into penalty field |
0.56 |
1.41 |
|
Stats from FBref |
||
On the face of issues, Elanga’s targets and help numbers aren’t a lot better than Almiron’s stats. He has two assists in 15 top-flight games and is but to attain. Nonetheless, he averages 0.17 anticipated assists every recreation and 0.33 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, exhibiting effectivity within the ultimate third.
Ought to PIF get this deal over the road, it may very well be a superb piece of enterprise. Not solely would they be signing a participant with Premier League high quality, however somebody who’s simply nearly as good as Mbeumo and an improve on Almiron, because the targets and help numbers present.
Elanga, known as a “scary” participant by journalist Laurie Whitwell, might turn into an instantaneous success on Tyneside and be a improbable addition to Newcastle as they give the impression of being to remodel their season.
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