Newcastle United have decided what they are going to do next after Nottingham Forest rejected their opening bid for Anthony Elanga.
The 23-year-old is the Magpies’ top winger target right now, with Newcastle offering £45million to sign Elanga. However, the bid was quickly swatted away by Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Geordie Boot Boys understand that Forest want more than £60million for Elanga, as they intend to keep him at the City Ground.
Newcastle do have alternatives to Elanga that they can pursue, but it appears that Eddie Howe is not totally ready to give up on the Sweden international.
Anthony Elanga playing for Nottingham Forest against Brighton in the Premier League.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Newcastle United’s stance ahead of second Anthony Elanga offer
Newcastle United can either up their offer for Elanga or move on to someone else. For now, it looks like they are angling towards the former.
That is according to the Chronicle, who report that the Magpies are preparing to submit a second offer for Elanga.
However, the Chronicle adds that people close to the deal believe that Newcastle United will walk away from negotiations with Nottingham Forest if they are unable to strike a deal that they feel represents value for money.
With that in mind, it is difficult to envision an agreement being reached. Forest have made it clear they want at least £60million for Elanga, which is £15million more than what Newcastle tabled in their initial offer.
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Given Forest’s demands, some Newcastle fans want to walk away from the Elanga deal. However, the decision rests with the Toon recruitment team, who are not completely ready to give up on signing the Swedish speedster.
The risk Newcastle United will take if they pay too much for Anthony Elanga
While Newcastle may up their offer for Elanga, they are not going to pay over the odds. They are determined to not be held to ransom during the 2025 summer transfer window, despite Eddie Howe’s desperate need for additional squad depth.
If they really wanted to, Newcastle could go out and pay Forest’s asking price for Elanga. The money is there to do that, but they would have to suffer the consequences.
It would make it even more difficult for the Magpies to strengthen in other positions, with Howe aiming to sign a right-sided centre-back, a striker and a goalkeeper. None of those additions will come cheap, especially given the calibre of talent that Newcastle are trying to attract ahead of their return to the Champions League.
Newcastle’s reluctance to pay the asking price for their top targets is frustrating, but it sums up the precarious position that PSR leaves them. There is simply no margin for error.