Newcastle United had a successful end to the 2024/25 season, winning the Carabao Cup and securing a return to the Champions League by finishing fifth in the Premier League. This strong performance sets a high standard for the upcoming campaign.
Manager Eddie Howe is undoubtedly pleased with the team`s achievements, but the focus is now firmly on strengthening the squad in the coming months to meet heightened expectations.
Early efforts to build on success are already underway. Reports indicate Newcastle has identified England centre-back Marc Guehi and Brentford`s Bryan Mbeumo as potential targets, although Mbeumo is reportedly favoring a move to Manchester United.
Finding a right-sided attacker remains a key priority, and Newcastle may have pinpointed the ideal player for this role.
Newcastle open talks for new right winger
This target is not Nottingham Forest`s Anthony Elanga, despite the 23-year-old being admired by Newcastle officials.
Instead, the player drawing attention is West Ham United`s Mohammed Kudus. Discussions have reportedly taken place among Newcastle`s senior management to explore the possibility of a summer transfer for the Ghanaian international.
Kudus` contract at West Ham includes an £84 million release clause, and he is widely expected to leave East London this summer.
However, following a challenging season for West Ham, it`s believed the club might consider a lower transfer fee, potentially closer to £65 million.
Why Newcastle should sign Kudus
Last season in the Premier League, Kudus scored five goals and provided three assists. While these numbers might seem modest, he was directly involved in four goals across his final eight appearances and possesses attributes that make him a formidable presence.
Anthony Elanga, Newcastle`s other primary target for the wing, recorded six goals and 11 assists last season. However, Kudus has the potential for significant future growth and could eventually surpass Elanga`s capabilities.
Despite facing challenges, the Ghanaian maintained his impressive ball-carrying skills throughout the past year. Only Manchester City`s Jeremy Doku completed successful dribbles more frequently in the league.
Football statistics highlight Kudus` technical proficiency, placing him among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe`s top five leagues last season for pass completion. He also ranked in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90 minutes.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
It`s plausible that Eddie Howe`s coaching could unlock Kudus` full potential. A comparison of his 2023/24 season under David Moyes and Elanga`s performance over the past year suggests that Kudus has a higher ceiling for development.
| Mohamed Kudus vs Anthony Elanga (Prem) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats (* per game) | Kudus (23/24) | Elanga (24/25) |
| Matches (starts) | 33 (27) | 38 (31) |
| Goals | 8 | 6 |
| Assists | 6 | 11 |
| Shots (on target)* | 2.0 (0.5) | 1.2 (0.6) |
| Pass completion | 84% | 78% |
| Big chances created | 5 | 9 |
| Key passes* | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Dribbles* | 3.8 | 0.7 |
| Ball recoveries* | 6.4 | 2.3 |
| Tackles* | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| Duels won* | 8.5 | 3.0 |
