Approximately half of the transfers in the Premier League do not succeed.
This observation comes from Dr. Ian Graham, the former director of research at Liverpool.
However, Newcastle United seemed to defy this trend.
Players like Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, and Dan Burn were standout signings that achieved significant success at St. James’ Park.
It seemed the club had discovered the secret to successful transfers—until last summer.
Aside from defender Malick Thiaw, the club did not see sufficient returns from their £100 million-plus net spend.
Newcastle is in dire need of reinforcements now, as they are finalizing a move for Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure, but they also require greater contributions from last summer’s recruits.
“I have faith in all those signings,” said head coach Eddie Howe in one of his closing press conferences of last season. “I believe they will prove their worth.”
The coming months will reveal much, but Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa showed promising performances at the World Cup.
Both players appeared to resemble the talents that caught Newcastle’s attention while playing for Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
In fact, the duo scored as many goals (five) combined at the tournament as they did in their entire first season with Newcastle.
While it’s risky to over-analyze World Cup performances, the question remains: can Elanga and Wissa harness this renewed confidence upon returning to Tyneside?
‘He’s the kind of player that can change a game’
Elanga entered the World Cup with nothing to lose.
Sweden was trailing 4-0 against the Netherlands when he was substituted in during the team’s second group game.
Just four minutes later, the 24-year-old netted a goal after sprinting through during a quick counter-attack.
This momentum carried into his next match against Japan, where he started and scored with a curling shot to equalize for Sweden.
Although Sweden ultimately lost 3-0 to France in the last 32, Elanga emerged with credit, showcasing glimpses of his potential.
“He’s the type of player who can change a game,” said former Newcastle and Sweden teammate Emil Krafth.
Elanga demonstrated his capabilities at Nottingham Forest but faced challenges adapting to Newcastle’s demanding system, despite his full pre-season.
He had flashes of brilliance, including scoring twice at the Nou Camp during the Champions League knockout stages.
His pace caused real problems for Liverpool and Barcelona’s defenses in matches at St. James’ Park, although teammates often failed to convert his assists.
Unfortunately for Elanga, it didn’t consistently click, and his £55 million transfer came with its share of struggles.
However, he is determined not to give up.
“He lacks the mentality to accept failure,” remarked a source close to Elanga.
Elanga can draw inspiration from recent history.
Despite Anthony Gordon had prior Premier League experience, he too needed time to adapt to Newcastle after joining from Everton in 2023.
Gordon’s intense desire to impress meant he frequently sought guidance from teammates on how to improve.
Through dedication, he became more responsible with the ball, improved his decision-making in the final third, and began to thrive following a confidence-boosting stint with the England‘s Under-21s at the Euros.
Krafth sees similarities between Gordon and Elanga.
“I think Anthony’s second season will be different,” he stated. “He’s now better prepared and more aware of the manager’s expectations.”
Wissa regains his goal-scoring touch
Elanga at least had some anticipation for what lay ahead.
Wissa, on the other hand, faced the most challenging preparations for his initial season at Newcastle after striving to leave Brentford, resulting in a £55 million move.
His pre-season was disrupted, and he suffered a knee injury while representing DR Congo.
Rushing back to repay Howe’s faith, Wissa scored three goals in his first six matches, but that was the highlight of his campaign.
The 29-year-old struggled to find his rhythm and frequently missed crucial scoring opportunities, ultimately affected by a lack of training during a busy match schedule.
However, several months into his tenure, Howe noted he was beginning to see the “best version” of Wissa during training in April.
It seemed Wissa was finally adjusting to the intensity of the Newcastle setup.
“When joining a new team, you can’t predict what to expect, especially at Newcastle with our training methods and playing style,” Krafth noted. “I don’t think any player is prepared for that level of intensity.”
There was an optimistic belief among the coaching staff that Wissa would benefit from a more extended period of focused training as the fixture load decreased in the final weeks of the season.
Wissa certainly appeared sharper and fitter leading into the World Cup, and he thrived on the grand stage.
Wissa scored the first-ever World Cup goal for DR Congo—a well-placed header—in a 1-1 match against Portugal.
Though Wissa missed some chances against Uzbekistan, he delivered a man of the match performance by scoring twice as his nation progressed to the knockout stages for the first time in history with a 3-1 win.
Wissa hit the post against England in the last 32, missing a significant chance to double the scoreline in a game ultimately lost.
Despite this, it was undoubtedly a tournament full of memories.
“I didn’t showcase my true potential at Newcastle,” he reflected during the World Cup, “but I knew my opportunity would eventually arise.”
Newcastle optimistic looks forward to what lies ahead, not just for Wissa but for Elanga as well.