Newcastle United's £35 million decision leaves Eddie Howe with the 'perfect' scenario

The sale of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest has left Newcastle United with the 'perfect' scenario in midfield, according our Newcastle United Editor Aaron Stokes.

Anderson's £35million move was reluctantly sanctioned by Newcastle chiefs as the clubs scrambled around to bring in funds to avoid a potential points deduction for failing to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules.

While there is some upset at Anderson's departure - with many Toon fans hopeful the 21-year-old would go on to be a key play for the club in the years to come - Stokes believes it has actually provided United with an ideal situation when it comes to their midfield.

There is still talk of about United dipping into the market to bring in a defensive midfielder but speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, Stokes denied that such a move was necessary and put forward the case that the club has the 'perfect amount' of options in midfield.

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"We've talked about this a lot haven't we on the podcast - about whether Newcastle had too many players in the midfield - and I sort of thought that they did because we've been spent the last couple of weeks saying 'does Lewis Miley need to go out on loan? Or Elliot Anderson or somebody else need to go? Does Longstaff need to go?'

"As it stands, if no one else in that midfield goes, I think they've got enough. Dare I say I think they've probably got the perfect amount because if Anderson hadn't gone, we would have been in a situation where he or Miley would be the sixth and seventh choice midfielders and they're both better than being in that position.

"I know it never works out that because Newcastle are going to have injuries and suspensions and whatnot, but they've got enough. If we see someone like Sean Longstaff or dare I say somebody somehow manages to sign Bruno, which I do not think is going to happen this summer now that release clause has expired, then I think they'll need another.

"As it stands, I think they've probably just got the perfect amount. Again, I think it goes back to yes, Newcastle United are going to be able to spend now and we probably stop talking about the the urgent need for exits.

"So we can start looking and getting excited about who they can sign now, I think there's a lot more positions that are urgently in need of reinforcements than midfield such as a wide player, up and a centre back - they probably take the priority rather than midfield at the minute."

Howe was hoping to start the season with a full roster of midfielders - bar Sandro Tonali who will return at the end of August - to choose from but Lewis Miley has picked up an injury.

The hope will be that Newcastle manage to hold on to Bruno while the likes of Miley, Longstaff, Joelinton and Joe Willock can overcome their injuries suffered last season.

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