The 2025/26 season that's soon on the horizon for Newcastle United looks to be another exciting one.
Eddie Howe's Toon will find themselves back amongst Europe's elite in the Champions League, with the hope they can compete for more silverware too after breaking their trophy hoodoo last season when lifting the EFL Cup at Liverpool's expense.
eddie howe
To boost their chances of a similarly successful 25/26, therefore, Howe will know he needs to be backed in the chaotic transfer market, with this attacking star one potential addition that would surely enliven the St James' masses ahead of the action kicking off.
Newcastle remain interested in move for Premier League winger
The Toon have been lining up a number of attackers this summer with talks reportedly due to take place to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton.
Another target is Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who after an impressive loan spell at Aston Villa, is now set to leave Old Trafford behind permanently.
Marcus-Rashford-Aston-Villa
However, to put that move to one side, as per a report from TEAMTalk, Newcastle remain interested in adding Nottingham Forest ace Anthony Elanga to their camp this summer, with a shock swap deal even potentially on the cards.
Indeed, the report elaborates that with the Magpies 'stepping up their interest' in the winger, they could be set to offer Harvey Barnes to Forest to smooth over proceedings.
Barnes' inclusion in the deal would bring down the £50m valuation of the ex-Manchester United forward's price tag.
Elanga-Van-de-ven
Elanga could also be tempted to make the switch with the allure of Champions League football presumably a pull, with Howe also desperate to land the Sweden international as he hunts down pacey, new options to enhance his attacking personnel.
Why Elanga would be a better buy than Rashford
Snapping up the services of Elanga would surely mean the Magpies wouldn't have to go back in for another of their attacking targets like Rashford, considering the 23-year-old is now surely viewed as an upgrade on his former Red Devils teammate after his blistering couple of campaigns at the City Ground, compared to Rashford's up-and-down time of things.
After all, if it's pace Howe wants in abundance, he will strike gold by picking up Elanga, with this unbelievable breakaway goal last season seeing him leave many a United shirt in the dust, before punishing his former employers even more with a clinical finish.
For good measure, he was one of the quickest players in the top flight of English football last season too.
Fastest & slowest players in the Premier League 2024-25 (timeless)
The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)
Off the back of such counter-attacking magic, Elanga would rightfully describe himself as "one of the fastest players in the PL", with the standout Swede thankfully backing up these rampaging forays more often than not with a meaningful strike or an assist.
Elanga's PL numbers (24/25) vs Rashford's (24/25)
Stat
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Big chances missed
Big chances created
Stats by Sofascore
Whilst Rashford did shine away from Old Trafford last season on the temporary books of Villa, it's also clear from the numbers that Elanga would be the better pick-up, with the 5-foot-10 winger far less jaded by the top-flight than the United outcast, registering a far greater goal contribution number of 17 last season, next to Rashford's lesser nine.
On top of that, Elanga also has the added boost of 14 more goals and assists donning Forest red from the season before, as Rashford's spell at the Swede's former employers began to fall apart.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
Moreover, unlike Rashford who is predominantly an out-and-out left winger, the Forest speedster would be able to offer Howe an option down either flank if needed, with the £50m-rated target up to 63 career games now as a right winger, on top of also tallying up 55 down the left.
Further lauded as "special" by Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, this could well be the platform the winger desires now to strut his stuff in the Champions League and beyond.
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Newcastle may need to replace their most profitable winger this summer.