He could be better than Mbeumo: Newcastle enter race for £38m "future icon"
da bet esporte： There’s been a lack of activity in the transfer market so far this summer from Newcastle United, but fans shouldn’t worry; Eddie Howe’s side are looking to make several signings.
da bet7： Having qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League season, the Magpies faithful will expect the squad to be rewarded for their Herculean efforts, winning the Carabao Cup too.
But sporting director Paul Mitchell stands down at the end of the month, and frustrations are already reaching boiling point for some given transfer targets like Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appear to be headed elsewhere.
Mbeumo scored 20 goals across 38 top-flight fixtures, earning praise from Thomas Frank for his “unplayable” attacking performances.
However, with Mbeumo seemingly out of reach, Newcastle are turning their attention elsewhere, and might have found an exciting option perhaps not yet discussed by the biggest channels.
Newcastle enter race for Mbeumo alternative
As per Caught Offside, Newcastle are in the running for versatile RB Leipzig forward Antonio Nusa, though they are joined in their interest by a host of clubs, including Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.
Valued at €45m (£38m), the 20-year-old has only been playing in Germany for a year but has made good progress, showcasing his range of attacking qualities. Thus, he could be snapped up before his stock rises higher still.
While there haven’t been any official proposals from the suitors yet, bids may materialise quickly, so Newcastle might be wise to act now and bring a top talent to St. James’ Park – one who might even outgrow Mbeumo in the future.
What Antonio Nusa would bring to Newcastle
Hailed as a “future icon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Nusa has impressed across his maiden campaign in Germany, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists across 36 appearances.
The Norwegian talent has yet to find the kind of goalscoring form that has defined Mbeumo’s time in the Premier League, but there’s more to his skill set than that.
In the Champions League, particularly, he impressed. As per FBref, Nusa ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s elite competition for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.
There’s a long road ahead for Nusa if he wishes to prove himself as a better signing than Mbeumo in the future, but his underlying data certainly suggests he has what it takes.
League Stats 24/25 – Antonio Nusa vs Bryan Mbeumo
Stats (* per game)
Nusa
Mbeumo
Matches (starts)
25 (16)
38 (38)
Goals
3
20
Assists
3
7
Shots (on target)*
1.0 (0.3)
2.2 (1.1)
Big chances missed
1
9
Pass completion
78%
74%
Key passes*
0.8
1.8
Big chances created
6
17
Dribbles*
1.6
1.4
Ball recoveries*
3.1
4.1
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
1.7
Duels won*
4.1
4.7
Data via Sofascore
Nusa is still very young – five years Mbeumo’s junior, in fact – but you can already see a combativeness and efficiency in his ball-carrying that suggests he too could sustain complete performances in the Premier League.
Moreover, the Norway international might not have converted that many chances, but he only missed one big chance in the Bundesliga last term, highlighting an underlying clinical edge that Howe could harness over the coming years, using the player’s pace and power to get him into dangerous positions.
Mbeumo will cost a pretty penny to prise from Brentford this summer, and given the strength of Newcastle’s existing frontline, adding an up-and-coming talent who can challenge for places might just be the winning formula for Howe’s side, as they step back onto the continent’s biggest stage.
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