Nottingham Forest are stepping up their activity in the transfer market as several developments have recently emerged.
Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha seem to be the only incomings where the dotted line has been signed but two Juventus stars may be on the cusp of being added to Nuno’s ranks.
Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga has been approached by Newcastle United once again, and Jordan Henderson’s return to the Premier League may materialise with Forest reportedly one of the frontrunners to potentially take him on board.
Anthony Elanga
Last summer Newcastle United voiced their interest in Elanga after bidding £30 million and even proposing an exchange for Miguel Almiron towards deadline day.
The Swedish international has prospered at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest clinched qualification for European football.
A season of resurgence in the Premier League unfolded with a monumental points tally buoyed ultimately by the goals scored rather than merely the lack of goals conceded.
Elanga embodied the principal outlet to catalyse their lightning transitional play and made Forest an ominous outfit when their opponents were running back facing their own goal.
According to David Ornstein, Newcastle have persisted with their interest for Elanga and they have lodged a bid of £45 million to bolster their threat out wide with Champions League football imminent for them.
A resolute Evangelos Marinakis was always unlikely to buckle when he received this unsatisfactory price tag, and Graeme Bailey claims sources from the club say upwards of £60 million is what Elanga’s valuation stands at.
Ornstein added The Tricky Trees have "no intention of selling" Elanga, who achieved the third most assists in the Premier League last campaign.
Graeme Bailey spoke further to Nottingham Forest News regarding this futile and unrewarding pursuit initiated by The Magpies and Eddie Howe: "Whilst not laughable, I am told that the offer for Elanga was not even ‘worthy of attention’ - Forest want to enhance their squad and up to two more wide players are wanted for Nuno to utilise."
"Elanga is firmly part of their plans. Newcastle have tried their luck, but they are way off in terms of value, I am told. As it stands, the player is showing no signs of wanting to leave this summer.
"Should Elanga push to move, the situation could change - but his value won’t and Newcastle are miles off it at £45 million."
Elanga’s wing play has matured and been funnelled into a particular style of play under Nuno’s tutelage. Alongside his performances on the pitch, the command for a higher price consequently followed.
Newcastle are reviewing whether they should persevere with a more compelling approach and by putting more cash on the table, but they could now be forced to turn to secondary targets.
His relationship with the club’s top goalscorer Chris Wood was superior to most pairings in the front line across the division while the goals they produced through clinical finishing made pessimistic predictions of Forest look foolish.
Brazilian Botafogo striker Igor Jesus is set to join Nottingham Forest for pre-season and his stellar performances in the Club World Cup may have strengthened Elanga and Forest’s stance on how the pieces of the puzzle can fit together to culminate in a more threatening attack.
Wingers still remain on the hit list for Marinakis to employ, and the trio of Botafogo players are not quite the end of Forest’s potential incomings.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Forest are in talks with Juventus over a double signing for Mbangula and Weah.
Discussions are said to be ongoing and the latter stages of a transfer are yet to be reached from both parties.
Forest have made unique approaches this window by attempting to snap up more than one player from the same club at the exact same time.
Mbangula broke into the first team setup just this year with Thiago Motta at the helm for the Italian giants.
The 21-year-old winger from Belgium had a dream start by scoring on his senior team debut at the start of the Serie A season.
He sharply cut in from the left flank and fired his shot into the far corner with his right foot, almost resembling the type of goals Callum Hudson-Odoi has notched Trentside.
He also appeared seven times in the Champions League for Juventus, leading the charge in the knockout phase first leg when he poached the winner against PSV Eindhoven.
Although the Italians were defeated by PSV, Timothy Weah still scored an equaliser in the second leg, channeling the traits of his father, renowned Liberian striker Geroge Weah, and rifled a strike from the edge of the area.
Weah mostly played at right back during his spells at Juventus and also for Lille during his four seasons in France.
However, he embodies versatility and comfort in a variety of positions, so Nuno may not be too apprehensive of deploying Weah without second thought across the pitch when the time arises.
The US international has seven goals and six assists in 78 appearances for The Old Lady and featured 9 times in Europe’s premier club competition last season.
If he is greeted by Conference League football upon a move to Nottingham Forest, he could boast more experience than the majority of the squad in continental competition and with the demands of mid-week fixtures.
The 25-year-old has returned to his homeland this summer for Club World Cup duties as Juventus bid to seal a first place group finish when they face Manchester City on Thursday.
Weah came on as a substitute in Juve’s opening match while Mbangula has not yet featured in the United States.
Jordan Henderson
The former Liverpool midfielder has been lauded for his leadership qualities by Thomas Tuchel, who has included the 35-year-old in both of his England squads since his appointment.
Scrutiny has coincided with this decision as midfield alternatives have been omitted and he is a player who has been absent from Premier League football for two seasons.
All may be about to change as Henderson has admirers in Nottingham as per The Daily Mail.
Forest join Marseille as the leading suitors while Henderson has until mid-July to activate a unique clause in his contract which would permit him to depart Ajax for free.
He signed a two and a half year deal last January in the Netherlands, but if this clause is triggered before the prescribed deadline, the recipient club won’t have to reach into their pockets at all.
As Tuchel has admitted, the presence of Henderson at training sessions with his disciplined character is perhaps even more valuable than what he directly provides on the pitch.
If Nuno did decide to hand Henderson extensive game time, it could impede the energetic and industrious personnel in the midfield like Elliot Anderson and Ryan Yates.
Conference League football is on the horizon and a seasoned, decorated midfielder with unparalleled knowledge of the Premier League could be a worthy inclusion to the squad.
However, Forest fans have highlighted how their club could come to regret the signing if it progresses, and if Henderson is favoured over more effective youngsters.