Reports on Thursday night suggested that Newcastle were on the verge of agreeing a £55m deal for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.
Since then, there has been a period of silence, followed by a Sunday morning update from Luke Edwards which referenced ‘slow progress’ – but not due to issues from Newcastle or Nottingham Forest’s end.
It was hard to make sense of an update that left some with more questions than answers this morning, but there could be a valid, albeit frustrating, explanation behind the wait.
Elanga has recently left CAA Stellar, an agency well known to Newcastle United, and is in the process of switching to Panthera Sports.
David Lockwood of CAA previously represented the winger, but a switch to Panthera sees agent Michael-Moses Jarman enter the picture.
Previous representatives CAA look after Toon stopper Nick Pope, fellow target James Trafford and Will Osula – a close friend of Elanga’s – while Elanga is now the most valuable client on Panthera’s roster, which includes former Everton winger Arnaud Danjuma and QPR’s Ilias Chair.
A switch of agents at this stage of discussions between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest is not a red flag, but it’s rarely conducive to a quick deal, adding another layer to an already complex transaction that already involves a £50m-plus transfer fee, structure of payments, Man Utd’s sell-on clause and personal terms.
It is widely accepted that the 23-year-old is keen to arrive at Newcastle, offering him Champions League football, a chance to take his game to the next level under Eddie Howe and play alongside fellow Swede Alexander Isak in attack. However, new representatives will assess his options and look to get themselves and their client the best possible contract at St James’ Park.
So, while the media indicate that negotiations between the two clubs have been positive and a £55m deal is all but agreed, it’s important to remember that an agent switch – a factor outside the control of Newcastle and Forest – can contribute to delays as we all wait for that much-needed breakthrough.
Another potential factor that may be contributing is Nottingham Forest’s search for a replacement. Even if they have struck a broad agreement with Newcastle over a fee, it is in their interests to make progress elsewhere while finer details are ironed out with Toon chiefs.
After all, Forest will not want to enter an already-inflated market with selling clubs believing they are desperate and £55m richer.
Expecting more patience after several quiet windows and a June full of setbacks doesn’t seem fair, but it may be needed as we wait for that much-needed breakthrough on Elanga.