Newcastle United are edging closer to securing the services of Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga.
This could be one of the biggest moves of their summer transfer window. The Magpies are hopeful of finalising a £55 million deal before the start of next week, with negotiations now in their final stages.
After tabling an improved offer, Newcastle’s latest bid has taken them extremely close to Forest’s valuation of the 23-year-old Sweden international.
Sources close to the deal suggest that Nottingham Forest are satisfied with the structure of the bid, particularly the significant up-front payment, and that only a few remaining details around performance-based add-ons need to be resolved.
Talks between the clubs are progressing well and are not expected to present major obstacles. With pre-season training around the corner, Newcastle are keen to have Elanga in place as soon as possible, which will give him enough time to settle into Eddie Howe’s squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
Elanga is reportedly eager to work under Howe at St James’ Park. Discussions over personal terms are not expected to be a sticking point, making it likely that the deal will be concluded swiftly once the final conditions are met.
Solution to the Right Wing
If the deal goes through, Elanga will become the long-awaited solution to Newcastle’s search for a right-sided attacker.
Although the Magpies initially pursued Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo earlier in the window, their interest cooled after the Cameroon international expressed a preference for a move to Manchester United.
This made Newcastle shift their focus to Elanga; a player who has long been admired by the club’s recruitment team.
Newcastle came close to securing Elanga’s signature last summer, only to see a deadline day bid rejected by Nottingham Forest.
Elanga has been a standout performer at the City Ground since joining Forest in the summer of 2023 from Manchester United for a reported £15 million.
During his debut season under Nuno Espirito Santo, he made 82 appearances across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and playing a key role in Forest’s surprise qualification for European football.
Born in Malmö, Sweden, Elanga began his footballing journey with youth stints at Elfsborg and Malmö FF, before moving to England and spending time at Hattersley FC.
Career at Manchester Academy
He was signed into Manchester United’s academy at the age of 12 and steadily climbed through the youth ranks at Carrington. Elanga made his senior debut for the Red Devils in May 2021 and went on to make 55 first-team appearances before departing Old Trafford.
Interestingly, Manchester United included a 20% sell-on clause in his move to Forest. This stands to earn them a sizeable profit should the winger complete his move to Newcastle.
On the international front, Elanga has been a regular feature for the Swedish national team, earning 22 caps and scoring four goals.
He also shares a strong connection with Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, a fellow Sweden international, which could help ease his integration into the squad.
The club is also working to complete a deal for Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. A series of discussions between the two clubs have taken place over the past week, and significant progress has reportedly been made in reaching an agreement.
Trafford, who impressed for England’s U21 side during their European Championship triumph, is seen as a long-term solution between the sticks for Newcastle.
With current backup options uncertain and Nick Pope returning from a long-term injury, adding depth and quality to the goalkeeping department has been a priority.
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