Why Newcastle are facing another Anderson situation if Manzambi signs

Newcastle United are very much at a critical juncture in their journey under Eddie Howe, who will be sacked by PIF if he does not oversee a sharp incline on last year’s lowly form.

It might feel like a torrential downpour is being lashed down onto St. James’ Park this summer (following last year’s stormy transfer window), but Newcastle are making a few shrewd signings as they rebuild.

Sadly, though, the historical might of fellow Premier League sides is holding sway at the moment. Sandro Tonali has signed for Tottenham in a £100m deal, and Bruno Guimaraes has intimated his desire to take off his armband and sign for Premier League champions Arsenal.

It’s all rather concerning, but PIF are certainly not idle, close to agreeing a move to sign Johan Manzambi from Freiburg.

How Johan Manzambi could fit in at Newcastle

Manzambi is the talk of the town, and it looks like he may well be headed for Newcastle this summer, with reports outlining that a £51m fee has been agreed with Freiburg for the Swiss international.

Only 20 years old, Manzambi is already a mature and multi-faceted midfield threat, hailed as a “special player” by Swiss manager Murat Yakin.

While he has been dispensed as an attacking wildcard for the most part this summer, his performances have been even more rounded and combative over the past year in Germany, suggesting that he could add a shrewd dimension in the centre of the field for Newcastle.

This is the kind of deal that could bear dividends in the future for the Tynesiders, bringing over instant relief and, concurrently, a player who has the potential to develop into something far greater.

Of course, Newcastle have also signed Sean Steur from Ajax in a £23m deal this summer. The Dutchman is only 18 years old, but has the skillset to succeed Tonali, a ball-playing and -winning machine.

With Jacob Ramsey also sure to stick around, we can’t help but fear for a repeat of the Elliot Anderson sale to Nottingham Forest two years ago.

Newcastle face another Elliot Anderson situation

It should go without saying that Newcastle can ill-afford to lose Joelinton as well this summer, certainly if Guimaraes completes a transfer to the Emirates. How Howe must wish that Anderson was never sold, never pulled away from possible superstardom at St. James’ Park.

Now, we run the risk of treading the same murky water in regard to Lewis Miley, who will surely be seeking a more influential role in Howe’s system next season, given the changes in the centre of the park.

Miley only started 15 times in the Premier League last season, and if Guimaraes joins Tonali in heading out of the door, you could easily say that the road to becoming mainstay would have been cleared for the homegrown talent.

After all, pundit Pat Nevin has said that “Miley looks like the next young English superstar to make a breakthrough“, press-resistant and bearing a maturity that goes beyond his years.

Miley, still only 20 years old, might not have hit full stride thus far, but he has the potential to become a superstar. Could signing Manzambi disrupt that?

The hope would be that it would not, but there’s every chance that Miley would continue to sit on the fringes when he yearns for a leading part, and that may tempt him to consider his options going forward, thus creating a repeat of the Anderson debacle that the Magpies continue to rue.

We’ve all seen how impressive Manzambi has been at the World Cup, and adding him to Howe’s side this summer is hardly going to be a bad thing, but Newcastle need to ensure a pathway is kept clear for Miley to develop.

After all, we don’t want to see a repeat of the Anderson situation, especially now that the Three Lions superstar has completed a record-breaking move to Man City.