Anthony Elanga

Key strength: Cutting inside

Inside forward

In 15th place and reeling from five consecutive defeats, Newcastle United's season is threatening to spiral—and yet through the gloom, Anthony Elanga burns with defiant purpose. The 23-year-old Swedish winger, signed for €55 million from Manchester United, has been Eddie Howe's most reliable outlet in a campaign fraught with frustration, racking up 45 appearances and over 2,000 minutes of tireless industry. His modest return of 3 goals and 2 assists belies a deeper influence; operating as a fleet-footed inside forward, Elanga weaponizes his pace and dribbling to cut inside from the right, stretching defenses and creating space for the likes of Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa. With a market value now at €61.4 million, the Old Trafford academy graduate has proven his worth as more than a peripheral figure—he has become the creative spark Howe desperately needs. As the Magpies fight to arrest their alarming slide, Elanga's ability to unlock packed defenses and provide dynamism on the counter could yet salvage their season.