With Anthony Elanga edging closer to his move to Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest are lining up one of Steve Cooper’s old targets to replace him.
There was late talk that Aston Villa could hijack Newcastle’s Elanga move, but The Magpies look to have done enough to secure their long-term target.
The Elanga deal should total around £60m with the inclusion of bonuses, as Evangelos Marinakis stood firm in his valuation of the winger to force Newcastle into intense negotiations.
Of course, the focus will now turn to finding an adequate replacement, with one leading option already very familiar to the Forest recruitment team.
Johan Bakayoko disappointed after the match between Brest v PSV in the Champions League
Photo by Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest target Johan Bakayoko to replace Anthony Elanga
To replace Elanga, Forest would need to find a winger with electric pace, partnered with an ability to make the right decisions in the final third.
There is arguably no attainable winger who fits this bill better than PSV’s Johan Bakayoko, leading Forest to show an interest in his services.
A report by The Guardian said: “Forest will make the 22-year-old PSV winger Johan Bakayoko, who has been tracked by Borussia Dortmund and by rival Premier League clubs, a prominent target if Elanga departs.”
Ironically, Newcastle were also looking at Bakayoko as an alternative to Elanga, which only emphasises their similar profiles. Clearly, this is something that Forest are aware of, too, given that the club were interested in Bakayoko before even signing Elanga.
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Nottingham Forest wanted Johan Bakayoko in 2022
It was Cooper who brought Elanga to the City Ground in 2023, but a year earlier, it was Bakayoko who was on the mind of the ex-Forest manager.
Cooper wanted Bakayoko in 2022 after securing promotion to the Premier League but the deal never materialised. Forest would then bid for Bakayoko in 2024, but he wanted to be at a club challenging for titles.
Hopefully, the upward trajectory of the club that was displayed last season will be enough to convince the Belgian of the move this time around, given how highly he is thought of by his teammates as well.
Speaking in a press conference in 2023, Romelu Lukaku was asked about his compatriot, and he did not hold back in his praise.
Lukaku said: “He’s understanding the importance of numbers in the game. His assist and goal tallies are increasing, bringing him into the spotlight.
“I’ve told him how incredible I find his play, and if he continues merging his creative flair with his scoring record, he’s on track to become a top-tier player. His potential knows no bounds.”