Newcastle hope World Cup form justifies £100m transfer spend
After a £100m-plus net spend yielded little immediate return, Newcastle United are looking to World Cup performances from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa to vindicate their transfer market investments.
Newcastle United spent over £100m on net transfers last summer, but aside from defender Malick Thiaw, the immediate return on that investment was minimal. The club is currently finalising a move for Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, but the pressing priority is extracting value from last year's expensive arrivals.
The struggle to integrate these players highlights a broader industry risk. Dr Ian Graham, Liverpool's former director of research, previously noted that half of Premier League transfers fail. Newcastle had defied these odds with early successes like Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes, but last summer's cohort threatened to drag the club back to the market's unforgiving mean.
Anthony Elanga, a £55m arrival from Nottingham Forest, struggled to adapt to a highly detailed system. While he showed his capability with a double at the Nou Camp in the Champions League, he failed to consistently deliver, particularly against deep-lying defences. However, his World Cup campaign with Sweden offered a reminder of the raw pace Newcastle paid for. "He's the kind of player that can change a game," said former Newcastle and Sweden team-mate Emil Krafth.
Yoane Wissa faced a different set of obstacles after his own £55m move from Brentford. A disrupted pre-season and a knee injury on international duty with DR Congo ruined his rhythm. He scored three goals in his first six starts but faded as the relentless fixture schedule exposed his lack of training time. At the World Cup, a leaner Wissa scored his nation's first ever tournament goal and added a brace against Uzbekistan.
The club will hope both players follow the trajectory of Anthony Gordon, who took time to adapt after a 2023 move from Everton before flourishing. "I think the second season for Anthony is going to be different," Krafth said of Elanga. "He knows what he's going to come into. He's a bit more prepared and knows what the manager wants from him."
Head coach Eddie Howe maintained his belief in the squad before the break. "I believe in all those signings," he said. "I think they will come good." Wissa, who admitted at the tournament that he "didn't show my best face at Newcastle," will hope his World Cup form proves his manager right, easing the pressure on the club's substantial financial outlay.
