Newcastle United have qualified for the 2025/2026 edition of the UEFA Champions League.
They finished fifth in the Premier League, edging past Aston Villa on goal difference.
After a thrilling domestic season with several plot twists and close encounters, the Toon came out on top against the Villans and Nottingham Forest, who were also in the race for the top five.
Eddie Howe’s side will be looking for reinforcements to increase quality and depth.
With more congested weeks since they will play in Europe, the need for attacking players has increased, and Newcastle have thus far been quite unsuccessful in attaining their transfer targets this summer.
A hot prospect for the Magpies in attacking midfield is Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
The 24-year-old Englishman impressed for Unai Emery’s side last season, and would presumably be keen to play Champions League football.
How does Jacob Ramsey operate?
How will he fit tactically in Eddie Howe’s system?
Is he a good fit for Newcastle’s midfield?
These questions will be answered in this scout report and player analysis.
We will compare his profile to Joelinton, who plays in a similar position, and highlight similarities and differences to determine how this transfer can help the Magpies in their upcoming campaign.
Joelinton Player Profile & Style Of Play
Joalinton Pizza Chart 2024/2025
Joelinton was a striker when he arrived at Newcastle.
Over time, he has showcased his adaptability by playing as a midfielder and a winger at times.
During the 2024/2025 season, he played as a left-sided attacking midfielder or a left-winger.
He influenced the game with his forward running, pressing, and physicality.
His pizza chart shows his significant contribution in the attacking phase, demonstrating his directness.
He is an aerial threat, as displayed by his aerial duel numbers.
Let us dive into how he operates tactically under Eddie Howe.
Joelinton Attacking Moments: On-The-Ball Actions
The Brazilian was often seen operating in the half-spaces, connecting the midfielders to the attackers.
Here is an example of Joelinton dropping in the half-space to receive in a small pocket of space.
He would often make these movements to connect play and progress the ball.
Although not the most technically gifted player, he was effective in these situations owing to his big frame, which helped him shield the ball in tight areas.
Operating in situations like these will be expected from Jacob Ramsey if Newcastle sign him.
Apart from receiving in tight spaces to link play, the Brazilian is also adept at ball-carrying in transition.
He was seen doing so several times as Newcastle broke into space from a deep defending situation.
Here is an example to illustrate the same point.
The Magpies are in a positive transition moment as Joelinton aggressively carries the ball into the space left by the striker as he starts drifting wide.
His ability to inject this element into Newcastle attacks is what brought variation to their attack last season.
The 29-year-old was heavily involved in the opposition half when his side was on the attack.
In addition to dribbling and receiving in higher positions, he was also seen playing vertical passes to break the opponent’s lines of pressure.
In this image, Joelinton plays a line-breaking pass to his teammate.
He identifies the space between the lines.
As his teammate starts the movements, the Brazilian releases the ball into his stride.
These situations arose from his being deployed as a deeper midfielder.
Although not a natural defensive midfielder, Eddie Howe used him there in games where he needed more physical presence to cut out opposing attacks.
This allowed his fellow midfielders to venture forward and play the creative role.
As mentioned earlier, he was also utilised as a winger on multiple occasions.
Here, we can see him receiving in the wide channel.
While playing as a winger, Joelinton made sure to provide width, allowing the attacking midfielders to exploit the half-space by making underlapping runs.
He would combine with midfielders and naturally interchange in dynamic moments, which helped Newcastle’s attack be fluid.
The Brazilian’s versatility would come in handy upon the signing of a midfielder like Jacob Ramsey.
When receiving the ball in advanced positions, the Brazilian is adept at absorbing physical pressure from opponents.
He uses his large frame to back into opponents and shield the ball to receive even aerial passes.
Here is an example of Joelinton receiving a long pass under pressure.
The opponent unable to shove him due to the Brazilian’s low centre of gravity as he holds his opponent off before bringing the ball down to his feet.
Once he controls the ball and creates some separation from his direct opponent, he lays it off to his teammate in the wide channel and makes a forward run.
Joelinton is also a threat in the penalty area.
He was usually seen making late runs into the box to connect with crosses.
In this example, Joelinton scores a header from an inverted cross from his teammate, Anthony Gordon.
He makes a late run towards the back post to connect with the cross.
His curved run makes it difficult for the defenders to track him.
As he goes to the blindside of the defenders, he gets a yard of head start.
Joelinton Attacking Moments: Off-The-Ball Actions
The Brazilian is a willing runner who can create space for himself or his teammates.
When playing as an attacking midfielder, he can make various movements to receive the ball in a bit of space.
Here, Joelinton makes an overlapping run to receive the ball in the wide channel.
As his winger starts to cut inside to engage his direct defender, the Brazilian identifies the space and makes the run.
With the correct timing of his run and release from his teammate, Joelinton gets the ball in enough space with an angle available to play a cut-back.
This action results in a shot from his teammate, who arrives in the penalty area.
Making underlapping movements is another way of getting on the ball.
Here, we can see the 29-year-old making an underlap to receive in the wide channel.
He drifts away from his direct opponent and makes a run on the opponent’s full-back’s blindside.
These movements help create overloads in the wide area, which in turn help either get crosses into the box or help with penetration through the half-spaces.
These runs can either take him to the wide channel to receive or help him receive in his stride in the half-space.
This is what happens in the image above.
Joelinton makes a run in the half-space and receives a pass from the wide area.
In this situation, the defenders are not quick enough to close down the shooting angle.
Hence, he takes a forward touch to shoot.
Actions like this can lead to different situations. In addition to shooting, he can also make a cutback or whip the ball across the face of the goal for someone arriving at the back post.
Joelinton In Defending Moments
As mentioned before, the Brazilian is a willing runner who contributes to the defending phase.
He is not shy about going out of his way to press high.
Here is an example of his high-pressing.
The Brazilian starts his press early and reaches within tackling distance by the time his opponent takes the first touch.
Under Eddie Howe, Joelinton averaged 20 pressing actions per game.
He was one of Newcastle’s most energetic and aggressive pressers.
It is a difficult trait to replace.
If the Magpies signed Jacob Ramsey, he would not completely replace Joelinton since the Brazilian could contribute by playing other positions.
Jacob Ramsey Player Profile & Style Of Play
Jacob Ramsey Pizza Chart 2024/2025
Jacob Ramsey plays as an attacking midfielder (usually left-sided) and can also play as a winger if needed.
He is technically sharp, which helps him easily get out of tight situations.
He is adept at progressing the ball through either dribbling or playing progressive passes.
He has been a creative solution at Villa, with influence in the attacking third.
The Englishman is also a tenacious one-on-one defender and is known for his defensive resilience.
His defensive statistics show his contribution.
Jacob Ramsey Attacking Moments: Positioning & Movement
This image shows the usual position occupied by Jacob Ramsey at Aston Villa.
The 24-year-old frequently operated as a left-sided attacking midfielder and was seen contributing from the left half-space either by dribbling at defenders or combining with his wide teammates.
Ramsey was not limited to playing the half-space.
He was seen moving to the wide channel to receive with more space.
Here, we can see him receiving on the left flank.
He sometimes interchanges with his wingers to occupy that position.
However, his tendency to drift wide and close control come in handy when he is deployed as a winger.
Jacob Ramsey regularly positioned himself in the half-spaces to receive in pockets of space.
This is a quality that helped his side progress the ball from congested areas.
His press resistance was of high utility for Unai Emery, especially in the build-up.
Here is a situation where Jacob Ramsey receives in a pocket in the left half-space.
The Englishman is closely followed by opponents applying blindside pressure.
However, his close control and ball manipulation help him keep possession.
When he positioned himself in such a way, it opened space in other areas of the pitch, which was exploited by his teammates.
He was also resourceful, as his positioning helped with linking and shifting play.
Apart from this, Ramsey was key in breaking lines by either playing a progressive pass or receiving between them.
The Englishman frequently showcased his skill by receiving on the half-turn and either carrying the ball forward or playing an exit pass.
Here is an example of Jacob Ramsey receiving between the lines.
He positions himself between the opponent midfielders and defenders.
Once he gets on the ball, he is able to release his striker, who is already on the move.
This is possible due to his adept technique and close control.
In situations where he cannot receive by being static, Ramsey moves into space to get a head start in dynamic moments.
Here is an example of the 24-year-old moving forward in the half-space and receiving in his stride.
The opponent full-back engages with Ramsey’s winger, and the centre-back does not step to cover.
This opens enough space for the Englishman to receive in the half-space.
Situations like these create chances to shoot or cross.
It is similar to how Joelinton moves as a left-sided attacking midfielder.
Jacob Ramsey is also adept at making overlapping runs.
This adds variation to the team’s attack.
In this video, we can see Ramsey making an overlapping run to receive in the wide area.
He identifies the opportunity to isolate the opponent’s full-back by creating an overload.
With a well-timed action, he is able to find space to play a cutback for his teammate to shoot.
Jacob Ramsey Attacking Moments: On-The-Ball Actions
Jacob Ramsey uses his technical prowess to progress the ball in different ways.
Carrying the ball into space is a prominent one.
Here is an example of him doing the same.
The Englishman receives the ball unopposed.
As he drives with the ball, the surrounding opponents are drawn towards him, opening space for his teammate to arrive from a wider position.
As Ramsey lays it off for him, the winger has enough time and space to play a square pass across the face of the goal.
Apart from ball-carrying, Ramsey was also seen facilitating ball progression by playing penetrative passes in the attacking third.
In this video, we can see Jacob Ramsey releasing his teammate with a through pass.
He gets involved in combination play, orienting himself well to play on one touch as his teammate sets the ball for him.
His through pass enables the attacker to take a shot.
Moments like these show the range of actions Ramsey is good at, which will potentially benefit Newcastle.
The Englishman is extremely proficient in getting out of tight spaces.
Above is an example of him getting out of a tight area with his exit touch.
He shows great skill in dealing with blindside pressure.
His ball manipulation and acceleration play a major role in his escaping these traps.
He is not the most physically dominant player, which means he cannot afford to get cornered and muscled off the ball.
He does well in enticing his direct opponent to step out.
Once that happens, he exploits the space sideways to eventually knock it forward.
Ramsey is also adept at playing neat combinations in tight spaces.
He can drop in the middle third to play the ball to an arriving player to either shift play or progress the ball.
In the example above, we can see Jacob Ramsey getting involved in a third-man pass.
He receives a vertical pass, which he lays off to a teammate sideways.
This enables his team to move the ball into more space.
His ability to connect well with his fellow midfielders will be a sought-after trait at Newcastle.
With players like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães around him, the Englishman is bound to thrive.
Jacob Ramsey Defensive Actions
The 24-year-old is a threat in possession and attacking transitions.
He is also a firm contributor to defence.
His pressing and defending actions yielded 186 tackles and 61 interceptions throughout the 2024/2025 season.
Here is an example of the Englishman pressing high.
He anticipates the opponent’s pass to the full-back and starts his press early.
As he curves his pressing run from the outside, he forces the opponent to go infield.
Since he has no short options inside, he is forced to play long.
Similar to Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey’s defensive contribution makes him a versatile component in any midfield.
Conclusion
Joelinton and Jacob Ramsey play in similar positions for their teams and have some similar functions in terms of pressing, positional versatility, and making forward runs.
Both can play as left-sided attacking midfielders and left-wingers.
Owing to his physicality, the Brazilian can also play slightly deeper in midfield.
Joelinton is more physical and dominates in the air.
His physicality also helps him hold off pressure in tight spaces.
Ramsey is more technical and relies on close control and ball manipulation to beat opponents and avoid pressure.
The Englishman is also proficient in link-up play and progressing the ball through dribbling and vertical passing.
Jacob Ramsey’s potential move to Newcastle would be a great addition for Eddie Howe, as the Englishman is technically solid and offers hard work off the ball.
This would give the Magpies multiple ways to set their midfield up, which would be very helpful for their upcoming season, during which they will play in multiple competitions.
