Why Newcastle could replace Anderson by signing the £34m star

Newcastle United have been battered and bruised in the summer transfer market for the second year in a row, but there is still plenty of time for Eddie Howe and co to put everything right.

The 2026/27 Premier League season is more than a month away, and the close of the market is still a long way off, but the severity of the Magpies’ slump last season calls for sharp and forceful promotion.

Sadly, the phenomenal success in the transfer market at the start of the PIF era has long since ended, and Howe and co must feel like they are in purgatory.

Where did it start? However, some would point to the poor decision to sell Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest two years ago.

Why Newcastle still miss Elliot Anderson

His name has become a household name on Tyneside. Newcastle sold Anderson to rivals for £35m, and he is now “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, according to Thomas Tuchel.

This summer, the Three Lions midfielder completed a £116m move to Manchester City, and that is where he will remain for years to come, ending the Toon’s hopes of a major reunion.

He brings all the qualities Newcastle need to return to the top flight, winning an impressive 7.8 duels per game in the top flight last year. It’s the ultimate ‘What If?’ in Tyneside.

It is very annoying now that Sandro Tonali got his wish and left St. James’ Park, completing a £100m switch to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

With Bruno Guimaraes also at Premier League champions Arsenal, Newcastle need to add experience in the middle of the park, and Anderson, who is perfect, would be a perfect fit.

However, despite the setbacks of the last few weeks in the window, there is still plenty of time for the Magpies to make another exciting signing.

Newcastle join the race to sign their new Anderson

Newcastle may have missed out on Johan Manzambi, the Freiburg midfielder who joined Aston Villa as a substitute, but they have signed youngster Sean Steur from Ajax for £23m.

The hunt for midfielders continues. Newcastle have emerged as favorites to sign Tottenham’s unwanted midfielder Lucas Bergvall, having submitted a bid for the 20-year-old.

A sound and developing midfielder, Bergvall is a top talent, but he arguably jumped at Spurs last year, and Newcastle could have landed an even bigger talent.

This is according to the Brazilian company, O Globo, who revealed that Newcastle are considering a formal approach to sign Botafogo midfielder Danilo.

The former Forest man is determined to reject Palmeiras’ advances to join Europe’s top club, suggesting he is open to a move to St James’, having failed to reach an agreement with Russian side Zenit.

Priced at €40m (£34m), the 25-year-old is an attractive asset for any elite outfit worth their salt, and given the Magpies’ recent history, they will want to make this one sharp.

He did not start in the World Cup, averaging 11 minutes in four games, but Danilo, who plays on the left, is establishing himself as a midfielder with all the qualities to improve in the Premier League, having already appeared at Nottingham Forest before being sold in 2025.

That Tricky Trees connection saw Danilo establish himself as Newcastle’s new version of Anderson, who shares many of the Three Lions star’s qualities.

Indeed, in 12 games in Brasileirao Serie A, he has scored seven goals and created 1.8 chances and received 5.2 balls per game on average, imitating Anderson in that regard.

It would be an exciting signing, adding a player to the fold who knows how to be tough in the Premier League and who is coming on leaps and bounds.

The Premier League is a tough place to get to, but Danilo has the physicality and technical ability to prove a real threat. There is a reason Carlo Ancelotti has drafted him into his World Cup squad with the Selecao.

Whether Newcastle manage to sign a top goal remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that Anderson-esque Danilo has the ability to make a real difference to Howe’s side next year.