Former Manchester City star Elano believes Newcastle are on their way to becoming one of the top sides in the Premier League after an impressive 2022/23 campaign.
The Magpies claimed a fourth-place finish in Eddie Howe’s first full term at St James’ Park, which also marked the club’s highest top-flight finish since the 2002-03 season.
Howe was named Newcastle manager in 2021 shortly after the Magpies were taken over by a Saudi-backed consortium, with the club splashing out over £200million in the transfer market since, a number that is expected to go even further up, ahead of a gruesome fixture list next season.
Elano, who played for Manchester City between 2007 and 2009, scoring 14 goals in 62 Premier League appearances, feels the huge financial backing for Howe should change the narrative for Newcastle and see them compete with the so-called ‘big clubs’.
Newcastle ready to become Premier League ‘big boys’
“Things are getting much more equal,” Elano told Stats Perform. “Especially the clubs that didn’t have the structure of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, who were the winning clubs.
“Newcastle, for example, who are in the Champions League, are also a powerful club. And they will become powerful in Europe, because they have the money for that. It is a club with an absurd growth margin.”
Elano revealed he wanted to wear Newcastle’s colours after facing them and maintains the Magpies can catch up to the Premier League’s elite clubs.
“I confess to you that I wanted to play for Newcastle,” Elano added. “I played a few games against Newcastle and I saw the quality of the fans, the stadium and the structure of the club.
“In world football, today, whoever doesn’t have the training structure, the staff, the club structure, will be left behind.
“If we look at the Premier League, Liverpool didn’t fight for the title. Arsenal were six or seven points ahead and lost the title. [Manchester] United were almost out [of the Champions League] again. Chelsea are out of the next Champions League.
“So, the organisation and the project of each club needs consistent work. Otherwise, whether it’s the Premier League or any other league, clubs will fall behind.”
Newcastle ready to challenge next season
Newcastle will now play in the Champions League for the first time in over a decade and it will be interesting to see who the Magpies will sign ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Eddie Howe’s men have shown they are no pushovers and it raises questions of whether they can replicate their achievements from the current season next term.
