Newcastle United are looking to tie down Anthony Elanga - but were offered the chance to sign Karim Adeyemi as an alternative.
However, the Magpies only ever had eyes for Nottingham Forest and Sweden winger Anthony Elanga in the search to fulfil their right-sided needs.
The Magpies are yet to complete a deal for the 23-year-old, but are confident of tying down Forest to a number this weekend. It’s likely the fee will be closer to £60million with add ons, rather than the £55million widely reported.
The signing would not only represent some proper first-team business completed, for the first time in three windows, but also significant backing for head coach Eddie Howe and his transfer strategy. Getting Elanga, who will become the club’s second most expensive player ever, means Howe would be landing one of the players earmarked as priority targets at the start of summer trading, having missed out on a host of others.
NUFC transfers: Challenging summer set to change?
The Magpies have been frustrated this summer in attempts to sign a number of players right at the top of Howe’s wanted list. Liam Delap opted for Chelsea for more guaranteed playing time - I mean, who could blame him faced with an Alexander Isak vs Nicolas Jackson scenario? Dean Huijsen was seduced by Real Madrid, despite United’s best attempts to land the then AFC Bournemouth defender. Bryan Mbeumo’s astonishing wage demands turned them off to any deal, while Joao Pedro only had eyes for London’s west end when news broke the Blues were set to come calling.
NUFC transfers: Karim Adeyemi
NewcastleWorld can reveal, this summer the Magpies were offered the chance to take Germany and Borussia Dortmund forward Adeyemi as an alternative to Elanga. But, after some checks on the player and the situation, it was deemed an unsuitable deal, despite the player’s young age, positive attributes and top level experience. It’s also thought the deal would have been cheaper than Elanga.
Some may doubt the logic - Newcastle do have their reasons - but who’s to doubt their near perfect transfer policy and talent ID? They’ve rarely, if ever, missed since the majority takeover of PIF in 2021. Even deals for the likes of Matt Targett had logic at the time of brokering.
Adeyemi has been away playing with Dortmund in the Club World Cup this summer. The player, formerly of RB Leipzig, has a total of 16 goals for his club, moving for around £25million back in 2022.
NUFC transfers: What next for the Magpies?
Howe & Co will be keen to tie down not only Elanga but James Trafford this week before moving on to other targets.
The Elanga and Trafford deals are NOT being held up in relation to sell on clauses as some online ITKs seem to have suggested, but more just the finer points of the deal with Elanga and some to and fro with Burnley over Trafford. A deal was close to being finalised last week only for the Clarets to move the goalposts at the last minute, demanding more from United. It isn’t thought that will put the brakes on the deal, though. As reported on this website this week, both players are keen for the moves to be signed off.
Further afield, NewcastleWorld understands two further deals are being worked on simultaneously by United transfer chiefs, led by Andy Howe.
Giorgio Scalvini is a name being championed in some quarters, but the Italian’s fitness record and recovery after serious injury has been questioned in the halls of power at St James’ Park. That doesn’t mean the club don’t really admire the player, and a move, especially at the numbers quoted in the national media, could prove too sweet to knock back.
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