Newcastle United must decide whether or not to turn to one of their Anthony Elanga alternatives.
The Magpies have stepped up their pursuit of a right winger, with Nottingham Forest rejecting a £45million bid for Elanga.
Forest want more than £60million for Elanga, which leaves Eddie Howe with a difficult decision to make. Newcastle United must either seriously up their offer, or move on to another target.
They do have alternatives. Newcastle are looking at Karim Adeyemi at Borussia Dortmund, but the player they should be making a move for is West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus.
Mohammed Kudus celebrates after scoring for West Ham United against Newcastle United at the London Stadium.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Newcastle United should move for Mohammed Kudus as an alternative to Anthony Elanga
Newcastle have looked at Kudus, and he is the winger that Eddie Howe should pursue.
The Ghana international offers something completely different to what Newcastle United already have. He is more of a maverick – the type of player that Toon supporters would idolise at St James’ Park. In contrast, Elanga is similar in style to Jacob Murphy. That is certainly not a bad thing, but Howe will be well aware that he needs different ways of playing.
Newcastle need competition for Murphy on the right, which Kudus would provide. But he would also allow Newcastle to alter their style. Not only does he have the speed to play in transition, but he also has the skill and trickery to create space in one-on-one duels. That is a pivotal skill against teams that use a low block, which Newcastle will encounter more and more the better they get.
The 24-year-old also has the versatility that Howe craves. While he would primarily arrive to play on the right, he can operate anywhere across the front. West Ham have used him on the left a lot, while he can even play as a central striker. That is something he did regularly during his Ajax career.
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There is the added bonus that he is available. While Forest want to keep Elanga away from Tyneside, West Ham are willing to sell Kudus. He does have a release clause worth £85million, but there is an acceptance at the London Stadium that he can leave for less. How much less will likely dictate how keen Newcastle United are.
Newcastle United have seen first-hand what Mohammed Kudus is capable of
On his day, Kudus is ‘unplayable’ in the eyes of former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew.
The Magpies know that first-hand, having struggled to contain the attacker ever since his arrival in the Premier League. Since joining the Hammers, Kudus has provided three goal contributions in three games against Newcastle United.
He actually scored his first Premier League goal against Newcastle, netting a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium in October 2023.
In the return fixture, Kudus scored and provided an assist in a seven-goal thriller at St James’ Park. Newcastle won 4-3 with Harvey Barnes hogging the headlines, but Kudus made a major impression on Tyneside that day.
Newcastle know how difficult it is to stop Kudus. It is something they have struggled to do ever since he joined West Ham for £38million.
He obviously is not the finished article. He has endured a difficult season with the Hammers, while there would be pressure on him to add consistency to his game. But with the coaching talents of Eddie Howe guiding him along the way, Mohammed Kudus and Newcastle United could be a perfect match.