Newcastle open talks to sign £75m Man Utd target who could be their new Anderson

They say all good things in life must come to an end, something which was the case for the affiliation between Newcastle United and Elliot Anderson.

The academy graduate spent 14 years on the books on Tyneside, subsequently rising through the ranks before making the step up to the senior ranks back in 2022.

However, after racking up 55 appearances for his boyhood club, he was forced out in a £30m deal to join Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024 to prevent any PSR issues.

To rub salt into the wounds of the Magpies faithful, the “Geordie Maradona” has taken his career to the next level at the City Ground and has now become a regular England international.

The supporters will no doubt be wishing Anderson could return to St James’ Park in the near future, but the hierarchy are going to have to look elsewhere to land a new midfield star.

Newcastle make enquiry for £75m midfield star

With current central midfielder Sandro Tonali massively linked with an exit from Newcastle this summer, it’s vital that the board reinvest any funds generated from any transfer.

Roma star Manu Kone has been touted as a potential option for the Magpies in recent days, with interest mounting in a potential deal for the Frenchman’s signature.

Any deal could well be a bargain for Eddie Howe’s side this summer, as the Serie A side could accept an offer in the region of £40m to ease their own financial issues.

However, the hierarchy are also hunting for other options at the heart of the side, with Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba another star currently in their sights.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Howe’s men have already made an enquiry to the Seagulls over a potential transfer for the Cameroonian when the window opens.

He also states that Fabian Hurzeler’s side are reluctant to offload the 22-year-old during the off-season, but could entertain a sale if a huge offer is made.

A fee in the region of at least £75m has been mooted for a potential move, but it remains unclear if the Magpies will match such an asking price during the off-season.

At the moment, Manchester United are in the driver’s seat to sign the player with Jacobs also reporting that he would choose a move to Old Trafford if a deal was agreed. He has had personal terms in place with them since last summer.

Why Baleba would be Newcastle’s next Anderson

As previously mentioned, Newcastle’s sale of Anderson was one that was needed at the time, but one which has come back to bite the club over the last couple of seasons.

The 23-year-old has developed into one of the division’s best deep-lying midfielders, with his stats from the current campaign demonstrating his quality in the East Midlands.

He’s won possession back over 100 times more than any other player in the Premier League, subsequently highlighting his phenomenal ability to regain possession for the Reds.

Anderson has also averaged 13.9 defensive contributions per 90, which further demonstrates his excellent ability to break up the play and disrupt the opposition.

Such numbers would no doubt have massively improved the options currently at Howe’s disposal, with the Magpies’ struggles down to their inability to stop the opposition at source.

A deal for Baleba would certainly hand the Magpies the deep-lying midfield option they have been lacking, albeit costing a small fortune given the £75m asking price.

He’s previously been on the radar of Manchester United, but their interest has faded of late, which could hand Newcastle a free run at landing the Cameroonian.

Like Anderson, he’s impressed without the ball this campaign, with his potential arrival handing the club their next version of the academy graduate ahead of 2026/27 and beyond.

The Brighton star has made 1.9 tackles per 90 in the Premier League so far this campaign, whilst also making a staggering 1.6 interceptions per 90.

The latter of the aforementioned tallies ranks him in the top 12% of midfielders in the division – whilst also managing to mirror Anderson in the department.

Baleba has also made 5.3 ball recoveries per 90 this term, along with 10.6 defensive contributions per 90 – which only reaffirms his incredible ability without the ball.

His tally of 58% duels won suggests he’s a dominant force at the heart of the side, which could make him the perfect ball-winning star for Howe’s side ahead of the summer.

£75m would be a club-record investment for Newcastle this summer, but it would allow them to possess a top-level operator for many years to come.

Should he make the move and have a similar impact to Anderson on Tyneside, it would be a deal worth every penny and one that can help the Magpies fight for Europe once again next season.

Related

Newcastle line up serious bid to sign “electric” £30m Anthony Gordon update

Newcastle are bracing themselves for official offers for Anthony Gordon’s signature this summer.