Newcastle United are preparing for one of their most anticipated fixtures in years, but before they can turn their full attention to it, they must first get past Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
As big as that European night will be, everyone on Tyneside knows there is an even bigger occasion waiting just around the corner. The Premier League’s first Tyne-Wear derby since 2016 is now only days away, and Sunderland’s explosive return to the top flight has only added more fear, nerves, excitement, and tension to the build-up.
Eddie Howe is already feeling the weight of what awaits him. Newcastle have lost their last four meetings against their rivals, and with pressure already growing due to inconsistent league form, the manager knows he must find a breakthrough performance before the derby arrives.
That makes the Leverkusen match more than just a Champions League tie; it is a chance to boost morale, restore belief, and get some momentum back into his squad before facing Regis Le Bris’ energetic Sunderland team.
A lot of attention will be on the players Newcastle spent heavily on over the summer. The club spent an astonishing £250 million on new signings, with Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga alone costing £110 million of that amount.
The idea behind their signings made sense at the time. They produced a combined 41 goal contributions last season and arrived with strong reputations as Premier League performers. But the reality on Tyneside has not matched the expectations placed on them.
Wissa cost £55 million, yet he has played only 16 minutes of football for Newcastle. His debut came against Burnley, almost 100 days after he signed, and it is impossible for supporters not to question such a huge investment in a player who has barely touched the pitch.
Still, his history shows he is not a lost cause. With 45 Premier League goals already in his career and a £140k-per-week wage, he simply needs consistent minutes to prove he was worth the financial gamble. Leverkusen could be the stage he needs to finally get moving.
For Elanga, the situation is different. He has no injury excuses to hide behind. With 22 appearances already this season, he has produced just two assists and zero goals, which makes his £55 million fee difficult to defend.
At £100k per week, the pressure on him is heavy, especially when pundits are already calling him a “massive overpay.” But even with his poor start, there is still optimism that he can grow into the role. His talent was clear for all to see at Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle hope that version of him will eventually emerge.
What makes the situation even more complicated is the presence of another expensive signing who is performing even worse. Jacob Ramsey joined Newcastle from Aston Villa for £43 million and earns £120k per week, making him one of the club’s higher earners.
Yet he arrived without strong numbers, recording only eight goal contributions across his final two Premier League seasons at Villa Park. While flashes of quality once made people believe he was “special,” that promise has yet to show itself in black and white.
His latest outing against Burnley highlighted the problem. Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Ramsey looked unsure, quiet, and far from the confident midfielder he was expected to be.
His statistics paint an even clearer picture of a player struggling to make an impact.
Here is a breakdown of Ramsey’s performance:
| Stat | Ramsey |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals scored | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Touches | 73 |
| Shots | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 56/60 (93%) |
| Accurate crosses | 0/1 |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Successful dribbles | 1/2 |
| Penalties given away | 1 |
Even with good pass accuracy, the overall display was timid, and the handball that led to a penalty only added to the frustration.
With no goals or assists from 11 matches, it is not unreasonable to argue that Ramsey has been a bigger disappointment than both Wissa and Elanga combined.
At least they have clearer paths toward improvement, whereas Ramsey seems stuck in a role that does not suit him.
The biggest issue for him is that Newcastle do not really need him. Joe Willock and Lewis Miley are already strong options in midfield, and both offer more dynamism and confidence on the ball.
If Ramsey cannot raise his level soon, he risks becoming nothing more than an expensive squad player with no long-term future in Howe’s plans.
Newcastle head into a critical period, and while the excitement of the derby will dominate conversation, the truth is that several players must step up quickly.
A win in Europe could change the mood instantly, but the pressure on Newcastle’s costly summer recruits has reached a point where patience will not last forever.
The next few weeks will tell whether this squad is truly ready to rise to the occasion or whether the club’s huge spending will become a heavy burden that holds them back.
