The summer transfer window is open. Sandro Tonali is all but done and expected to be announced soon, yet reports emerging over the past 24 hours suggest James Maddison will join Spurs over Newcastle.
Howe will want more creativity from his midfielders next season and it’s well documented that we’ve also been watching RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai.
Below, we list three potential signings we could pursue instead:
Ebere Eze – Crystal Palace
If Newcastle really wanted to make a statement this summer, they would try to sign Ebere Eze from Crystal Palace. The midfielder had an excellent end to the season, that resulted in an England call-up. It feels like 2023/24 could be a further breakout season for the former QPR man, as he establishes himself as one of the most consistent players outside of the top six.
There is an inevitability that he will reach the top of the game and he is the type of player that would suit our system perfectly. Eze could play as one of the number eights, as he has the energy to press and the attacking quality to contribute in the final third. Last season, he contributed ten goals and four assists. This is impressive considering that Palace were a poor attacking team for the majority of the campaign.
Eze averages 2.39 shots and 4.03 shot creating actions per ninety minutes, placing him in the top 5% for both metrics among his position. He is a very attack-minded player and he has started to display the end product that he needs to become an excellent Premier League player.
There will need to be improvements in his defensive tactical understanding, but that will improve with more coaching. Eze has the perfect profile for Eddie Howe.
It would be an expensive transfer as Eze won’t come cheap. However, it is one that looks perfect for our current position, as he could develop with the team. We have been linked in the past, therefore it wouldn’t be surprising if we were linked with a move at some point.
Aleksandr Golovin – Monaco
This would be another risky option, as there are doubts about the Russian’s physicality and whether he could adapt to Premier League football. He is certainly a talent, but Golovin is slight. It isn’t a profile that Eddie Howe has opted for during his time in charge.
However, with Champions League football, we need different squad profiles and Golovin would add a lot of attacking flair to our midfield options. He is another player that could fill in across the forward line too. Versatility is still a desired quality for the club.
Last season, he was a regular for Monaco, contributing eight goals and seven assists in Ligue 1. These are promising numbers and show the value that Golovin can add to an attack. He averaged 0.18 for both npxG and xAG, showing the dual threat he poses in the final third. The 27-year-old averaged 1.73 shots and 4.31 shot creating actions per ninety minutes.
It is a similar profile to Majer. Like the Croatian, he would add a dynamic attacking flair to the squad. The unique quality that Golovin could bring is his movement and intelligence in the final third. He is excellent at picking up pockets of space between the lines.
Lovro Majer – Rennes
There were reports stating that we scouted Croatia during the World Cup, with a focus on Borna Sosa. It is likely that Lovro Majer would be on our radar, as he profiles very similarly to Joe Willock. Therefore, it is likely that he would fit in well with our style of play. There is a versatility to his game too, as he could play in a more advanced role if required.
In Ligue 1, he contributed two goals and five assists, but his underlying numbers are far more eye-catching. Majer averages 0.18 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) and 0.23 expected assisted goals (xAG) per ninety minutes. These rank in the 91st and 96th percentiles respectively.
The Croatian international has a high volume of final third actions, averaging 1.93 shots and 4.47 shot creating actions per ninety minutes. Again, he ranks in the top 10% when compared with other midfielders.
Majer is very effective in transition, as he can progress the ball with his passing range and ball carrying. He averages 6.97 progressive passes and 3.36 progressive carries per ninety minutes, again ranking very highly when compared to others in his position. A pass success rate of 78.6% is low, placing him in just the 28th percentile. However, it underlines his risk-taking style of play. This could be very useful to us, as we struggle to break down teams that sit in a deep block.
There will be concerns about Majer’s defensive work rate and suitability in a pressing system. That said, his attacking style will appeal to decision makers at St James’ Park.
