Newcastle United like Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga but the price tag could prove troublesome
Comments
Newcastle United remain interested in Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga despite talk of at least a £60million price tag being put on his head.
The Magpies are in the market for a right-winger, and having seen Bryan Mbeumo demand a reported £250,000 per-week have returned to Elanga, who they bid for on deadline day last summer.
The interest in Elanga hasn't been universally supported by the Newcastle fan base with some unimpressed with the winger's return in the top flight - 14 goals and 23 assists in 113 appearances.
On this week's Everything is Black and White Podcast, hosts Andrew Musgrove and Sam Mulliner clashed as they spoke about Elanga and a potential move to Tyneside.
"Elanga would have been a good signing for us a couple of years ago, when you're trying to break into the upper echelons which we've kind of done twice in the last three seasons and we were very unlucky that season we didn't achieve it," Mullliner said.
"I'm not turning my nose up at Elanga - if he signs, he gets my full support and I hope he does very well and I hope I'm proved wrong.
Article continues below
"I'm not saying he's a bad player - not once have I said he's a bad player, he's a good player but I just don't think he's got the potential to be a great player."
Musgrove however believes that Elanga could be the perfect addition for Newcastle as Eddie Howe looks to bring in a right-winger to rival Jacob Murphy for that spot in the team. Since Miguel Almiron's departure from the club back in January, Murphy has had very little competition on the right.
While conceding, Elanga will never be 'world class', Musgrove believes the winger has the attributes to really improve Newcastle's starting XI.
"I totally disagree with you on Elanga," Musgrove told Mulliner, "I think he's got so much more to give. He's going to be a top, top player and if he signed for Newcastle United, I think he would go on to prove himself to be a really astute buy.
"While Elanga is never going to be talked about in the same breath as some of the best wingers we've seen in the Premier League, working with Eddie Howe, and the level he is at and can get at, makes this Newcastle United team a better side.
"He's not a world class player, he's never going to be, but what he does do and what he will do is turn Newcastle United into a potential title challenging side with a few more additions.
"Just because he's not world class in the definition, it doesn't mean he can't take Newcastle to the next level, because if he continues to develop, gets to the next level or stage up, provides assists for Isak, chips in with a few goals, that's improving Newcastle United.
"Throw in a few more signings, and they'll just get better and better and improve. It's not necessarily about where that player ranks in terms of being the world's best - it's more about the collective, I think, in many ways."
Newcastle have been linked with Brighton's Joao Pedro as well - and alongside Elanga, Mulliner is concerned that both aren't the players to take the club to the next level. If United were to sign both Elanga and Pedro - it would cost the club the best part of £120million, and such a heavy outlay for the pair is a worry for Mulliner.
"I think we're looking at it with the wrong mentality now. The monkey is off our backs with trophies - we should be looking for next level stuff now to challenge for the Premier League title.
"At the moment, you can't describe it as stop-start transfer business because it hasn't started yet - and you see rival teams, City have have done great business so far, Liverpool have done great business, and we're already being left behind because of one reason or another.
"Look, I'm not getting delusions of grandeur in saying we should be winning the Premier League - that's not what I'm saying, please don't get me confused.
Article continues below
"This is where Newcastle are at the moment with Champions League two seasons out of the last three, domestic trophy winners, a very, very good manager, a very healthy PSR status for a change - investment is there ready, it's still an exciting time, an exciting project.
"We should be looking now for the next level, the next step up, and players who can be great, not just good, and my belief is that Elanga and Pedro are good. Can they be great? Pedro, potentially but Elanga? No, not for me."
You can listen to the full episode here or watch it via YouTube here.