Transfer Potentials – Newcastle United scouting at Euro 2025 | OneFootball

Did anybody watch the U21 Euros this past month? Not just the final but the whole thing from an England perspective?

With Tino Livramento and Elliot Anderson both representing England, I made a point of watching all their matches.

I also tuned in for Denmark’s defeat to France (missing all of the belting previous performances of Will Osula) and caught a few of the other knockout matches too, including the fabulous 3-2 battle between Germany and Italy in the quarter-finals.

As someone who has attended the last two senior Euros and gone to a lot of England games over the last seven years, I have to say I found watching the Young Lions a lot more enjoyable.

Although the group stage wasn’t all that entertaining, as soon as it mattered in the knockouts, the developing England stars were outstanding. They beat Spain, Holland and then Germany to defend their crown from two years ago.

As the tournament progressed there were a number of players that I thought would be positive additions in the positions we need to strengthen. Below are the players that I thought could slot straight into our squad and give us competition in the much needed areas.

Conclusions of my Newcastle United scouting at the U21 Euos

I’ll start with the person that I think would be the ideal Newcastle player and a fantastic signing. This guy would complement our style of play perfectly and matches the competitiveness and energy that has become the trademark of Howe’s squad.

That man is none other than Elliot Anderson. His sale a year ago was a necessity, both for the club and the player. I don’t think he would have developed anywhere near as quickly had he been at Newcastle as a squad player last season. He was unfortunate the season before, as during our injury crisis, when he could have gained valuable first team minutes, he was injured himself for a large spell. The glimpses of what he could do were there, he just never got a chance to properly exhibit them.

Screenshot

He went to Forest and immediately established himself as a key first team player as they drove towards unexpected European qualification.

One thing that puzzles me about that transfer is that no buyback clause was inserted into the deal. Both ourselves and Forest had FFP issues, and we essentially helped each other out. However, whilst we paid £20 million for a third choice keeper, they only gave us £15 million extra for a young first teamer with bags of potential. Surely in those frantic last minute negotiations someone could have had the foresight to suggest a buyback clause. Maybe somebody did and it was shot down but we’ve got to be stronger in negotiating. If Forest hadn’t sold Vlachodimos they would have had to shift someone like Anthony Elanga instead, so they must have been as desperate as us.

With Elliot Anderson, £50 million would have been a fair figure for a buyback. It would have guaranteed a profit for Forest but also allowed us the first opportunity to claim back a local lad at a reasonable (in this market) price if he’d developed as all parties hoped.

Had that clause been there, I wouldn’t have necessarily wanted us to trigger it this summer. I think he’d still struggle to get in ahead of our starting midfield three. He’s a player that can be utilised on the wing or in a number 10, so would give us cover in multiple positions. However, I’d much prefer him to have another year as one of the main men in that Forest team. The following summer, the likes of Bruno and Joelinton would be ticking towards their 30s and Anderson would be the perfect player to come in and challenge them for starting spots. I actually think Anderson is as close a replacement to Bruno as we could hope for. He comes deep to receive the ball from defenders, he covers plenty of ground, gets stuck in, beats players, wins fouls and plays defence splitting passes. I sincerely hope we see him in a Newcastle United shirt again one day, but we’ll likely have to pay a heavy premium to see it happen.

One of Anderson’s U21 teammates that we could well sign this summer is player of the tournament Harvey Elliott. I would be jubilant if we managed to get him at a reasonable price. Opportunities will be even more limited at Liverpool next season; with the signings they are making. Elliott is someone that looks likely to move on. At 22 he has already made 92 league appearances for Liverpool and won a Premier League, two Carabao Cups, a Community Shield, Super Cup and Club World Cup. He is also one of only two players that was part of both victorious U21 Euro winning squads.

He’ll come with a winning mentality and plenty of big game experience. Like Anderson, he’s comfortable in the middle, as a number 10 or playing off the wing. He’d come in as cover for our midfield three and a challenger for Murphy’s spot on the right. He lacks a yard of pace but makes up for it with superb technical ability and an eye for goal. He is willing to put in the yards too and buzzed around the pitch every game during the tournament. Elliott scored five goals in the competition, including one in the quarters, both the goals in the semi and another in the final. He was instrumental to the tournament victory and will be brimming with confidence coming into the new season.

We’re looking for a right sided centre back this summer and whilst both England’s central defenders had sterling tournaments, Elliott’s club teammate Jarell Quansah would have been another excellent addition. He’s quick, good on the ball, strong in the air and is willing to stretch his legs to carry the ball from defence. Unfortunately, he’s just been confirmed as a Leverkusen player.

I’m sure we’ll have a quality option lined up in this position but, if we don’t, then it’ll feel like we’ve missed out considering Quansah went for a deal of up to £35 million. A decent price for a 22 year old with a high ceiling.

The other much touted position for us to fill this summer is a backup striker to Alexander Isak. There isn’t anyone I’d select from the England squad to fill that role but Germany had a handy fellow upfront. I’d never heard of Nick Woltemade before the tournament but in the four games I watched him in (twice against England and the Italy and France matches) he made a big impression.

He’s an absolute unit at nearly two metres tall but his footwork is exceptional. He also looked quick for his size. At 23 he hasn’t made many waves in his young career at club level. This most recent season appears to be his breakthrough at the top level with 12 goals from 28 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart. He could be somebody that is on the brink of blowing up.

They say never buy someone off the back of a good tournament. This is usually meant about senior Euros and World Cups and, as I’ve admitted, I know nothing about this chap beyond what I saw in four games. He’d be a bit of a gamble but then you could say Isak was the same (6 goals in 32 games the season before we signed him and a career best of 17 in 34 the year before that).

If we could get him for £30m to £40m, I think we’d have a real asset on our hands who could both rotate with Isak and play with him. If we need a late goal, being able to bring on a tricky giant can’t hinder our cause. The tournament’s top scorer may have a few suitors this summer, so my price may be unrealistic, but I’ll definitely be following this fella with interest in the future.

We’ve got a big summer ahead of us and it’ll be a long two months before the transfer window shuts. I’m confident that when we do make signings, they’ll be the right ones.