These six Newcastle United players – Better than any Premier League rival | OneFootball

The Newcastle United players have started arriving back for pre-season.

Monday at the training ground saw 15 or more of the squad there from the start.

Whilst those involved in international football this summer were given the option of a little extra time off.

So the likes of Sandro Tonali, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Bruno and Anthony Gordon will be joining up with the rest of them in the very near future.

Also, the first major signing of the summer is imminent, Anthony Elanga arriving on Tyneside yesterday for his medical and expected to sign and join the NUFC squad by the end of this week.

Everybody, all Newcastle United fans, want the best for their club, the very strongest team and squad possible for the 2025/26 season.

Fair to say though there has been a very varied range of reactions to the wait for major new signings this summer, from those accepting that things can take time and trusting Eddie Howe and his recruitment team to deliver the best possible final outcome, right through to the extreme of those who see each new day without a signing made as some kind of disaster.

Obviously we need more than just the one signing, no matter how good Anthony Elanga might be, but I think time to take stock with this particular angle below, just how exciting the prospect is.

Sandro Tonali

Joelinton

Anthony Elanga

Anthony Gordon

Alexander Isak

Those six Newcastle United players, is there another Premier League club that has better than those half dozen in midfield and attack?

I don’t think there is.

No doubt Liverpool fans might disagree and no doubt they have some very good players in their front six options. However, unless they sign a stand out top quality automatic first choice centre-forward, I think Newcastle United have a better first choice six in front of the defence.

I think where the likes of Liverpool and others such as Arsenal and Man City have the advantage, is of course their strength in depth.

For sure, if you put up Newcastle United’s current next best six in midfield and attack, up against those other top teams/squads, United are weaker.

However, on that front we are hopefully getting there as well. Newcastle United have as the six now covering the first choice half dozen forwards and midfielders, the likes of Barnes, Murphy, Miley, Osula, Longstaff and Willock.

Barnes and Murphy had excellent seasons in 2024/25 and I don’t think anybody can argue against them as additional options on the wings in terms of quality and effectiveness. Longstaff though is clearly leaving and fell totally out of favour last season anyway. Willock could be a great option if finding the consistency and quality of the 2022/23 season, rather than just the glimpses we saw last season. Miley and Osula have great promise but need the time and space to grow, rather than too much pressure and reliance put on them.

I think that on that basis, if we end up with back up for the first choice half dozen in midfield and attack of Barnes, Murphy, (a consistent) Willock, Miley, Osula, a new versatile striker/attacking option (as well as Elanga), plus a new midfielder brought in as well, then I believe Newcastle United are getting there in strength in depth.

However, that first choice midfield and attack looks something special, the six Newcastle United players if they line up on a regular basis, just what could be possible?

This is where it is important though, to have the best possible back ups as well.

Last season (and previous seasons), Eddie Howe forced to play players such as Isak and Joelinton when they aren’t 100%.

The better the back up options, the better the chances of keeping that top six of Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon and Isak available week in week out. Able to sub them off due to having better quality bench options,, bench options who can also come in and play from the start and the quality not drop to a serious extent. Especially as so often it will be Newcastle United playing so many midweeks as well.

I am not forgetting the quality players Newcastle United also have in defence AND will hopefully be adding to further.