Newcastle United are continuously looking to ‘level up’, and the next player whose position could be under threat is Joelinton.
Throughout the Newcastle United squad, there are young players who are impacting the present while boasting the potential for an even brighter future.
At 23, Nick Woltemade is only going to improve further. In Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, the Magpies have two full-backs who are good enough to start for England now despite being so young.
Malick Thiaw joined Newcastle United during the summer. He arrived as Fabian Schar’s long-term successor, and the signs are already clear that he is going to thrive in that role.
The next position that Eddie Howe needs to find a long-term successor for is left-sided centre-midfield. That is where Joelinton plays, but his performances as of late prove that his position should be under threat over the next 12 months.
Newcastle United’s midfield has been incredible, but there is scope for it to become even better. The club are looking into that possibility, as they weigh up the possibility of Elliot Anderson returning to Tyneside.
Newcastle United v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
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Elliot Anderson is the perfect Joelinton replacement for Newcastle United
Geordie Boot Boys recently reported that Newcastle United would love to re-sign Elliot Anderson, having sold him to Nottingham Forest in 2024.
That was due to the threat of PSR, with Newcastle cashing in on Anderson for £35million to avoid a points deduction. It is a decision that the Magpies have regretted ever since, with Anderson taking his game to incredible heights.
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Toon fans would love Anderson to return, and the feeling is mutual within the club.
The i Paper have reported that Anderson is interested in re-joining Newcastle United, but that is not to say he is pushing to leave Nottingham Forest.
Alas, the possibility of him returning to St James’ Park is very much alive, and he is the player who Eddie Howe should be targeting as Joelinton’s long-term replacement.
With the £40million man alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, Newcastle have arguably the best midfield in the Premier League. However, it would become even better if Joelinton was replaced by Anderson.
While Joelinton’s power is a real asset, his lack of quality on the ball can be a hindrance. In contrast, Anderson can provide both. He has proven at Forest that he is confident dictating games and breaking through the lines, while he is also unassumingly physical.
Tactically, he knows exactly what Eddie Howe wants. Having worked closely with the manager before, he would be able to walk into the club and have an immediate impact on the first-team.
Most importantly, bringing in Anderson to replace Joelinton would be further evidence of the Magpies future-proofing their squad. While Anderson turns 23 in November, Joelinton is 29.
The Geordie Maradona left the club as a boy, but he would return a man.
How much would Elliot Anderson cost?
However, that potential return is going to hit PIF in the pocket. Given how well he has done for Nottingham Forest, Anderson is going to cost a huge amount of money.
Newcastle United have no ace up their sleeve. There is no buyback clause for Anderson, as the Magpies were not negotiating from a position of strength when they let him go for £35million in 2024.
Instead, Newcastle will have to pay whatever Forest want if they do decide to formalise their interest. That is a worry, as it has been claimed that Anderson could cost more than £100million.
That would make him Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever, with the record currently belonging to £69million striker Nick Woltemade.