Newcastle United are looking to tie down deals for James Trafford and Anthony Elanga from Burnley and Nottingham Forest respectively.
While there remains a sense of calm among the Newcastle hierarchy, they’ve failed to deliver a first-team addition to Eddie Howe’s squad before the players return to pre-season testing and training. Given the manager’s words at the end of last season, in which he guided the team to a top five finish and ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy, it represents a failing, of that there is no doubt. Howe wanted action, claiming good players don’t wait around, and, at the time of writing, they have done nothing to improve last season’s lot.
But, things are close. And there has to be some positive in that. Newcastle fans have watched on all summer so far, seeing almost all of their rivals wheel and deal, some of which has seen them nip in to nab United’s own priority targets. But finally, two deals are close.
The long-awaited transfer of James Trafford from Burnley is in the final stages. The Clarets did up the price in some to and fro over social media activity in recent weeks, but that hasn’t been enough to put Newcastle off, in what they see as posturing by the recently promoted side.
And Anthony Elanga’s deal should also be upped, thrashed out and accepted, if it hasn’t already privately, with all sides agreeing on the fact a move is best for all parties. Nottingham Forest get a princely sum for a player they paid just £15million for two years ago, while the player gets the move he wants and United get their man - their first right wing, first-team recruit since the PIF majority buyout in 2021.
NUFC transfers: ITK claims
Social media has been awash with claims in relation to why the deal has been held up - we’ve even seen Forest fans duped by fake social posts in relation to Elanga in the last 48 hours.
So, we did some digging on the deals, and asked those in the know whether some of the rumours are right. One that stood out was the claim that both Trafford and Elanga’s deal were struggling to get done due in no small part to the fees due to previous clubs Man City and Man United, via ‘hidden’ sell-on clauses. It’s understood this could not be further from the truth. And these numbers have been factored into the overall fee. The structure of the deals has been the only sticking point, as well as the fee, when it comes to Burnley and Trafford.
ITKs have also been quick to link the Magpies to the likes of Athletic Bilbao’s Oihan Sancet, Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta and PSG star Kang-in Lee. But, much like Xavi Simons, as reported by NewcastleWorld on Sunday, neither of these three are understood to have taken part in transfer conversations at Newcastle United this summer.
We know that Marc Guehi is no longer a transfer target now, following on from United’s protracted chase last summer, while Ousmane Diomande is not well thought of by transfer chiefs, despite some national newspapers claiming Newcastle are keen.
NUFC transfers: What next for the Magpies?
We all hate to hear it, but it’s a waiting game. Newcastle are closing in on two deals for James Trafford and Anthony Elanga, but at the time of writing, neither deal had been fully brokered.
The Trafford fee was inexplicably increased by Burnley seven days ago, but it isn’t thought to have put an end to hopes of signing it off.
Elsewhere, Newcastle have been working away on deals on the continent, with a couple in the pipeline, both of whom are for players whose names are not yet in the public domain.
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