‘I confess’ - Former Manchester City star reveals past hopes of joining Newcastle United

One former Manchester City star has tipped Newcastle United to become a powerful force in Europe - and revealed he ‘always wanted’ to play for the Magpies.

Eddie Howe’s side are currently preparing for the club’s first Champions League campaign in two decades after surpassing all expectations to secure a top four place in last season’s Premier League. The United hierarchy are working hard to boost Howe’s squad ahead of the season, with the likes of Leicester City star James Maddison, Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney and Italy international midfielder’s Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella all said to be on a list of targets.

Aiming to bring in such high-calibre signings is a clear signal of the ambition of the Magpies Saudi-led owners as they look to take the next step in their development of the club since they completed a £330m takeover at St James Park in October 2021.

With a historic season now lying in wait, former Manchester City and Brazil playmaker Elano believes some exciting times are ahead for Magpies supporters and revealed how he was keen to move to Tyneside during his playing career.

“Things are getting much more equal (in the Premier League),” he told Stats Perform.

“Especially the clubs that didn’t have the structure of [Manchester] United, Arsenal, Chelsea, who were the winning clubs. Newcastle, for example, who are in the Champions League, are also a powerful club. And they will become powerful in Europe, because they have the money for that. It is a club with an absurd growth margin.

“I confess to you that I wanted to play for Newcastle. I played a few games against Newcastle and I saw the quality of the fans, the stadium and the structure of the club.”

Magpies join race to sign Gambia striker

Newcastle have joined the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in monitoring the progress of Gambia Under-20 international Adama Bojang.

The 19-year-old frontman is already attracting interest from Bundesliga clubs RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt and The Guardian have revealed one other unnamed German club has already lodged a bid with Bojang’s club Steve Biko FC. The youngster has scored six goals in eight games for Gambia Under-20s and was part of their side that reached the Under-20s World Cup earlier this year.