Murphy Next & Elanga Under Threat?

News that Everton are interested in Jacob Murphy and Newcastle are willing to sell seems like it could suit all three parties.

Newcastle would get a fee for a 31 year old with just a year left on his contract and unlikely to be offered a new one, Murphy gets a new start at Everton, and David Moyes sign a player he apparently has rated for a while.

Murphy's stand out season for the Toon with 20 Premier League goal involvements was back in 2024-25, but he managed just one quarter of that total last term.

Jacob laid a good few goals on for Isak in 24/25 and he also helped himself to his best goal return during his time at SJP.

If Murphy does leave, unlike other players we could mention, he;ll be guaranteed a welcome and a cheer if he returns in a new shirt.

A Toon supporter almost from birth Murf always gave 100% and did it with a smile on his face. Hugely popular in the dressing room, that is where he'll be missed the most.

Elanga under threat?

If Murphy exits that leaves us with just one right winger although new manager Jaissle may get a tune out of Toure in that position.

Either way, with Gordon gone and should Murphy exit, we need another winger.

Of the three signings who underperformed last season and who fans have doubts for this season, Elanga concerns me the most.

Woltemade has talent and and fellow German Jaissle will, I'm sure, try to harness that talent and be more flexible in a tactical set up to accommodate Big Nick.

Wissa by his own admission was never fit enough last season but his outstanding goals and all round play in the WC show that he still has the ability score goals for the Toon.

Elanga, despite scoring at the WC and looking decent, remains a concern for me.

£55M is a fee he has come nowhere near to justifying and, what's more, in a Toon shirt we haven't seen those sparks of form that show that there is a fire to be lit.

Also, if Bruno leaves (yawnnn) aka Gordon we'll have lost two of our top scorers from last season and, with goals scarce in the current squad, I don't see Elanga weighing in with many even if his form improves.

So, another winger who has displayed an eye for goal needs to be very near the top of Wilson's list if Murphy joins the exodus.

In fact, the midfielders we need to sign also need to have boots that can weigh in with a few goals as well as spreading silky passes around the pitch.

It doesn't take much football nous to suss this out; if you don't score more goals than the oppo you don;t win games - however well you play. And we are short of goalscorers.

Yawwwnnn...

I wasn't going to mention the saga that is now sending many fans, me included, to sleep.

But, yet again, the news this morning is that Bruno has confirmed in La Manga that he wants to leave and that a move to Arsenal is imminent. Again.

I don't know about you but I've well had enough of this farce and the quicker Bruno jumps ship and lets us sail on our way the better.

Some fans say Bruno is irreplaceable - IMO he isn't.

Dare I say it, but replacing Isak was a far far harder task than replacing Bruno.

20+ goals a season players are as rare as hen's teeth, influential mids aren't.

Wilson's transfer coffers will soon be overflowing and if he spends it wisely and brings in a couple of mids of the right quality there is no reason why our engine room can't function better than last season's one of Bruno, Tonali and Jo. It isn't a high bar.

Wilson has signed the young un's...

He now needs to bring in 22-24 year olds, and perhaps a really experienced head, to add some immediate first team starters to the squad.

So, let's keep our panic powder dry until the window closes.

That lot down the road didn't do too badly with a first team of new signings last season.

There is no reason why we can't either.

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