Anthony Elanga in action against Newcastle United last season
Anthony Elanga in action against Newcastle United last season
Newcastle United's defenders won't need to be introduced to Anthony Elanga. After all, this is a rapid player who has hurt the Magpies time and time again with his pace over the years.
, a signal that the club are strengthening, a reminder to those regulars who helped make history that they are going to have to raise their game.
It has been nearly two years since Newcastle made such an addition due to PSR constraints.
While there has been intense competition for places in one or two areas in that time - at right-back and on the left wing - Eddie Howe has lacked genuine selection dilemmas in others.
Take the right wing, for instance. Jacob Murphy was the club's only natural option in the second half of last season after Miguel Almiron's mid-season departure.
In truth, even when Almiron was at the club, Murphy started more often than not in the Paraguay international's final year at St James' Park.
It is a credit to , then, that the forward enjoyed the season of his life after being directly involved in 20 Premier League goals. For context, only Liverpool star Mohamed Salah registered more assists.
Yet Murphy knows he can't afford to rest on his laurels and, rather than being daunted by Elanga's arrival, the forward will embrace the challenge of competing directly with a £55m signing.
Elanga, similarly, will know he will have to hit the ground running and produce every week to keep his place.
This is the sort of dynamic that led to and Alexander Isak pushing each other to remarkable heights in 2023 while Anthony Gordon did not immediately walk back into the team during the run-in last season because of the form of Harvey Barnes.
If Newcastle are to compete on multiple fronts this time around, Howe needs a number of these subplots.
"You're not going to give your best performances if you feel you're comfortable in the team every week," the Newcastle boss once said. "Part of the reason for signing new players is to push them.
"I've always said you don't want the team to pick itself. You don't want easy decisions when you're in my shoes. You want tough calls."
As much as Howe likes a settled side, the Newcastle boss did not have enough tough calls last season. In fact, only Brentford (20) started fewer players than Newcastle in the Premier League in 2024-25.
However, Newcastle need no reminding how competing in the Champions League can stretch a thin squad after the black-and-whites lost more days (1,950) to injuries than any other Premier League side in 2023-24.
That's why an ability to rotate is going to be crucial as Aston Villa proved last season after Unai Emery had the luxury of making four changes for the visit of Newcastle - just days after defeating PSG in the Champions League.
Not only was there not a noticeable drop in quality in the first XI - the hungry Marco Asensio, Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen and Tyrone Mings came into the team - but Emery was also able to introduce Jacob Ramsey, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, Marcus Rashford and Donyell Malen from the bench to seal the 4-1 win.
Aston Villa pushed the envelope, of course, with the highest wage to turnover ratio in the Premier League, and ultimately missed out on a place in the top five on the final day, but the Villains showed the value of strength in depth.
Elanga feels like a step forward for Newcastle in that regard and if the Magpies were to add further quality in three or even four other areas, the black-and-whites will be well-placed to attack the campaign.