'Very happy': Alan Shearer has perked up now that Newcastle United have made transfer breakthrough

It took Newcastle United a long time to wake up in the summer transfer window, and while the Magpies are yet to officially make a signing, things are moving along, finally.

Newcastle are expected to announce the signing of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest any time now (if they haven't already between writing this and it going live).

Heading into the summer, it was widely reported that Bryan Mbeumo was Newcastle's first choice for their right flank, but when it became apparent that a deal for the Cameroon winger would be too expensive, Newcastle pivoted back to Elanga, who they tried to sign last summer and again in January.

Elanga will bring bags and bags of pace down Newcastle's right and a work rate that Eddie Howe will absolutely love. He's expected to be a fantastic signing for Howe, and Alan Shearer, after moping for the early part of the window as Newcastle dragged their heels, has finally perked up.

Alan Shearer's transfer worries are starting to melt away

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer revealed that he's very happy with the signing of Elanga.

“Very happy, I said the other day I was a little bit concerned with the lack of activity coming out of Newcastle, but it looks as if things are starting to move. I’m pretty sure we’ll get it over the line. I think it’s a good signing. He is rapid, he’ll work really, really well with Isak because they’ll obviously know each other. So yeah, really happy with that.”

“When you look at who they’ll have, [Jacob] Murphy and Elanga on the right side. They’ve got [Harvey] Barnes and [Anthony] Gordon left side. [Alexander] Isak up top.”

The Anthony Elanga signing feels like the start of something good

As Shearer points out, we have two fantastic options for each flank now after Murphy proved his worth several times over last season, as indeed, did Harvey Barnes.

It feels like a lifetime since we've been so excited to see a new signing in action, but we're already anticipating the butterflies the first time we see Elanga leaving a defender in his wake down that right side of the pitch.

We still need more additions this summer, obviously, but the Elanga move does feel like the first domino to fall, and we'll see more activity soon.