Now it's time for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United to show their ability to pass through adversity once again. But then they've done it before.
Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford should join the St. James' Park ranks, but there are still glaring openings in central defence, up front and out on the attacking right flank.
james-trafford-burnley
Stepping back into the Champions League, the 2024/25 Carabao Cup champions need more depth, especially so in the final third.
Newcastle's hunt for new forwards
Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo rattled suitors when stating he would only jump ship for Manchester United this summer, turning his head at interest from Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.
Bryan Mbeumo 2024-25 season in numbers (timeless)
And now, Joao Pedro is set to join Chelsea having hitherto been listed as one of Newcastle's top targets, if not the top target.
This is deeply frustrating, for Newcastle are yet to bolster their attacking ranks whatsoever, having entered the window with this principal priority. It's not for the want of trying, at least.
West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus has since been earmarked, while an offer for Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, worth £50m, has already been rejected.
It's Elanga who is the priority, with Football Insider now reporting that the Magpies are preparing an improved offer for the Sweden international.
Elanga, 23, has been a defining member of a Forest team who will compete in Europe next year, and the Tricky Trees are indeed proving tough negotiators, demanding £60m for the right winger.
Elanga-Newcastle
He'd bring a lot to the United cause, with a silky skill set that practically demands to be combined with Alexander Isak's.
What Anthony Elanga would bring to Newcastle
Pace, and plenty of it. Elanga left Manchester United to sign for Nottingham Forest in 2023 for just £15m, and he's only gone from strength to strength since.
Fastest & slowest players in the Premier League 2024-25 (timeless)
The fastest & slowest players in the Premier League (2024/25)
Over his two terms, he's helped pull his club away from the relegation fodder and onto the continental stage, so electric and incisive down the right flank.
Nuno Espirito Santo hailed him a "special player" after one blistering counter-attack against Manchester United, bagging the sole goal in a 1-0 win back in March.
Elanga's last two seasons
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Tackles*
Duels won*
Stats via Sofascore
Having kept a pretty consistent level throughout his time at the City Ground, Elanga has now proven that he's worth the money, athletic, purposeful and reliable with his output. The stream of assists is certainly something Isak will have his eye on.
He also demonstrated an uptick in shooting accuracy, missing as many big chances as he scored (six) in 2024/25 after squandering ten chances the year prior, bagging only five times.
This must be to the delight of Isak, who is a superstar unto himself but will perhaps raise his game even higher (just pause and imagine that) with such a presence beside him, for Isak is not just a goalscorer, but a creator and an influencer; the perfect focal point.
Forest's star winger might have only averaged 0.7 dribbles per Premier League match last term, but that's a tactical quirk.
This is a man who self-proclaims to be "one of the fastest players in the league", and when you observe him in his barnstorming groove, you wouldn't argue against it.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga-1
Isak would relish the chance to play with such a pacy winger, reliant on their creativity. We've seen the marksman's prowess with Murphy, now imagine that with his countryman Elanga, faster and just as tenacious.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga Related
[More important than Elanga: Newcastle close in on signing "world-class" ace](https://www.footballfancast.com/more-important-than-elanga-newcastle-close-in-on-signing-james-trafford/ "More important than Elanga: Newcastle close in on signing "world-class" ace")
Eddie Howe looks close to making his first summer signing at Newcastle United.