Newcastle United took a knock yesterday as their £45 million bid for Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga was outright rejected.
There was no counteroffer from Forest, who simply dismissed Newcastle's lowball offer, showing just how wide of the mark Newcastle were with their valuation.
Nottingham Forest don't want to sell Anthony Elanga, so a lowball offer, £15 million below their valuation, was never going to get them to open talks. We're not sure what Newcastle's thinking was behind the move.
It is possible Newcastle were just testing the waters to see what they'd get back from Forest in a bid to open talks, but they didn't even get them to budge.
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Anthony Elanga
Graeme Bailey doesn't see Newcastle offering close to Nottingham Forest's asking price for Elanga
Now, transfer journalist Graeme Bailey has provided an update to Geordie Boot Boys about what could happen next, and it's not sounding positive from a Newcastle perspective.
“Newcastle have shown their hand and it is so off the mark.
“Forest want more than £60million, so they are way off. Newcastle like Elanga a lot, they think he would move to the North East, but as it stands, it is a non-starter.
“Could Elanga agitate for a move? I don’t think that is likely at this stage. So will Newcastle go back for him? I am not sure, but certainly not at Forest’s valuation level.
“Newcastle are working on other things and Joao Pedro remains their most likely option for a forward, with talks continuing.”
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Let's hope Jacob Murphy is putting the extra hours in this summer
So, while Newcastle believe Elanga would be open to a move, it doesn't sound like he'd push for it and would be happy to remain at the City Ground.
If Newcastle don't go back with a more realistic offer, it could be game over already for an Anthony Elanga switch.
Thankfully, the Magpies have several other targets in mind for the same position, and as long as they offer something at least remotely sensible for one of them, we could see something happen, but if our tactic is to go in with silly offers and walk away when they get rejected, then I hope Eddie Howe has found another gear for Jacob Murphy to go into.