He’s attracting the attention of some of Europe’s best clubs.
Despite Newcastle United’s injury crisis this season, manager Eddie Howe has been able to offer significant first-team minutes to a number of young players at the club.
The Magpies’ primary beneficiaries have been Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson, who have combined to make 31 Premier League games this season.
Despite his young age, 17-year-old Miley has taken the league by storm, becoming a real mainstay in Newcastle’s squad following Joelinton and Sandro Tonali’s injuries and suspensions, respectively.
He scored his first top-flight goal in a 3-0 win over Fulham at St James’ Park in December, and the kid continued to improve after that.
Following Miley’s impressive debut in the first squad under Howe, the Magpies manager and Saudi PIF should step up their pursuit of another teenage talent linked with a move to the club.
Newcastle interested in 17-year-old talent
According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle are competing with Bundesliga club Bayern Munich for the signing of 17-year-old prospect Assan Ouedraogo.
The attacking midfielder, who plays for Schalke in Bundesliga 2, has thrived despite the club’s struggles to return to Germany’s top flight.
In 14 games this season, he has scored twice and contributed two assists, marking a breakout season for the teenager.
Assan Ouedraogo (2006) with an absolutely incredible goal to give Schalke 04 the lead.
His ball retention under opposition pressure & silky footwork is truly world class.
His first league start since October, & immediately making the impact. ✨
pic.twitter.com/2uAp7uB3Ej— Adam Khan (@XxAdamKhanxX) April 7, 2024
Despite the Magpies and Bayern’s interest, Roma, Atalanta, and Leipzig are all still interested in Ouedraogo, who is rated at £6.8 million by Transfermarkt.
Ouedraogo & Miley could be the future of Newcastle
Given that they are both only 17, Miley and Ouedraogo might be Newcastle’s future, as they have not looked out of place so far this season.
The “world-class” kid, as described by German video scout Adam Khan, has generated some fantastic stats in the Bundesliga 2 this season, with Ouedraogo averaging 3.4 progressive carries with the ball at his feet and looking to cause danger every time he touches the ball.
The young German has also completed 3.6 successful take-ons this season, placing him in the top 1% of the league. It has also enabled him to generate 3.2 shot-creating actions per game, demonstrating his proficiency with the ball in the final third.
Looking at Miley’s stats prior to his back injury, he would have been the ideal deep-lying partner for the German teenager to maintain his offensive threat and cause endless issues for the opponent.
The Newcastle academy graduate has thrived both with and without the ball this season, completing 82% of passes and winning 2.5 tackles per game.
Miley has also averaged 1.5 blocks per 90 minutes this season, demonstrating a remarkable ability to win the ball and break up plays despite his young age of 17.
Even though the two are still in the early stages of their professional careers, they would be big assets in the middle of the Magpies’ midfield and have the potential to develop into world-class players.
Although they may face stiff competition from German powerhouses for his signature, Howe and the PIF must do everything they can to win the race for the youngster’s prized signature.
