Howe’s own Yamal: Newcastle poised to unleash “one of world’s best” young talents
Newcastle United have shown impressive progress under Eddie Howe recently, with new signing Sandro Tonali making an immediate impact in midfield. The Italian’s presence has unlocked Bruno Guimaraes’ potential and brought out Joelinton’s aggressive side, fundamentally changing the team’s dynamics according to observers.
This evolution, combined with a pipeline of promising youth talent, bodes well for Newcastle’s long-term success. Academy products like Lewis Miley are starting to break through, while the club pulled off a coup by signing 17-year-old Vakhtang Salia from Dinamo Tbilisi last October.
Described as “one of the best teenage prospects in world football” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Salia has already gained significant experience in Georgia, scoring 7 goals in 39 senior appearances. He made his debut for Georgia’s U21 team in June, drawing comparisons to Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
While not yet at the level of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Salia has shown impressive goal-scoring instincts that could be utilized in wide or central attacking roles. With Callum Wilson’s contract expiring, Salia could potentially make an impact when he arrives in 2025.
Newcastle have built a close-knit, talented squad under Howe. If given time and patience to develop, Salia has the potential to become their own version of a prodigious talent like Yamal, further strengthening the club’s bright future.