Newcastle hit with a serious ‘problem’ after completing Anthony Elanga transfer – Keith Downie

Newcastle United have finally completed the signing of Anthony Elanga, marking a significant milestone in their summer transfer plans.

The Swedish winger, who arrives from Nottingham Forest for a reported £55 million, has signed a five-year contract and is expected to add dynamism, pace, and depth to Eddie Howe’s attacking line.

Elanga’s arrival, while celebrated, does not signal the end of Newcastle’s activity in the market. In fact, it has merely highlighted the underlying challenges the club faces when it comes to executing their broader transfer strategy.

Despite the fanfare surrounding Elanga’s acquisition, the club’s transfer operation remains somewhat fractured behind the scenes.

The departure of Paul Mitchell, who briefly served as sporting director, has left a gaping hole in the club’s football leadership structure. Without a permanent sporting director or chief executive in place, Newcastle now find themselves navigating a crucial transfer window with limited operational capacity.

According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, Newcastle are only able to manage one deal at a time, a reality that poses a significant risk in the fast-moving world of modern football negotiations. As rival clubs move swiftly to secure targets, Newcastle’s single-threaded approach could lead to missed opportunities.

The issue isn’t a lack of ambition—Newcastle clearly have big plans. They are targeting reinforcements across several key positions, including a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a striker, and potentially a central midfielder should Sean Longstaff depart.

The club has already made progress in talks for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, and they remain active in the market. But each of these negotiations takes time, and with a skeleton staff managing operations, progress is inevitably slow.

While Elanga’s signing has injected optimism into the fanbase, it also underscores the need for more structure and resources behind the scenes to match the club’s ambitions on the pitch.

Up front, the need for reinforcements is especially pressing. With Callum Wilson gone, the striker department is now dangerously thin.

Alexander Isak remains Newcastle’s primary option, but his injury record raises concerns about his ability to carry the load for a full season.

Behind him is Will Osula, a young forward with potential but little top-flight experience. This shortage in the forward line has pushed the club to intensify its search for a new number nine.

Yoane Wissa has emerged as a serious target. The Brentford forward enjoyed an outstanding campaign last season, netting 20 goals across all competitions.

His ability to operate centrally or from the wing makes him an ideal fit for Eddie Howe’s tactical system, which demands versatility and fluid movement in the final third.

Wissa’s high work rate and positional intelligence would complement Elanga’s pace and Isak’s technical ability, creating a more balanced and dangerous attacking trio.

Elanga’s arrival may have addressed one key need, but it also revealed just how much more work lies ahead. The current state of Newcastle’s internal operations means that deals are being worked on sequentially rather than concurrently.

This inefficient approach limits the club’s ability to compete aggressively for top targets, especially when others are acting quickly. It’s a scenario that raises legitimate concern for supporters, especially given how close the club came to signing players like Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, only to miss out.

If Newcastle are to build on their recent success and maintain their momentum in domestic and European competitions, they must resolve the leadership vacuum that currently exists.

Appointing a permanent sporting director and restoring a streamlined executive structure will be essential. That infrastructure will not only allow the club to pursue multiple deals simultaneously but will also ensure a cohesive vision that aligns recruitment with the broader goals of the club.

In the short term, however, the priority remains clear: Newcastle must sign a striker. They cannot afford to rely solely on Isak and Osula to carry the burden through a demanding season that will include league, cup, and potentially European fixtures.

Yoane Wissa represents the kind of signing that could immediately elevate the team’s attacking threat while providing tactical flexibility. But to land him, or any top target, Newcastle must act swiftly and efficiently—something that is currently difficult under the weight of their internal constraints.

With Elanga now through the door, attention must shift rapidly to the next pressing need. Newcastle United have taken an important step forward, but without the right structures in place, their transfer strategy risks being more reactive than proactive. For a club with big ambitions, that could prove to be a serious problem.