Newcastle United have plans to kick on this season in the Premier League.
Since the takeover of the Tyneside club in 2021, the Magpies are the biggest threat to the Premier League’s “Big Six”, and having barely secured Champions League football with a fifth-place finish last season, the goal for the upcoming campaign will be to comfortably finish in the top four.
To achieve this, Eddie Howe will need to keep hold of his best players, with Man City showing an interest in Tino Livramento, while several clubs have an eye on the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
There will also need to be additions, and a £55m transfer that is close to being completed by Newcastle may have just ruined a deal Man City had planned to get done towards the end of the transfer window.
Anthony Elanga in action during West Ham United FC v Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Newcastle United reach an agreement for Anthony Elanga
It was reported by Fabrizio Romano on Monday that Newcastle have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for Anthony Elanga, with the Premier League club receiving £55m for the Swedish winger.
The 23-year-old impressed in the Premier League with Forest last season, scoring six goals and assisting a further 11 across 38 games in the English top flight, and will now form a lethal attacking trio at St James’ Park alongside Isak and Gordon.
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🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Elanga to Newcastle, here we go! Deal in place club to club with Nottingham Forest for £55m.
Agreement also in place with player’s camp on long term deal. 🤍🖤
Excellent addition for #NUFC. pic.twitter.com/3Y6J90hFbe
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2025
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Man City had no interest in the Sweden international; however, the winger’s move may have just ruined a transfer Pep Guardiola had planned for later in the window.
Morgan Gibbs-White looked certain to join Man City at one point this summer; however, Nottingham Forest are now unlikely to sanction a sale following the departure of Elanga.
Morgan Gibbs-White clapping during Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Man City have no hope of signing Morgan Gibbs-White
When Guardiola met with Gibbs-White after Man City’s FA Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest last season, it looked certain that the midfielder would be wearing sky blue throughout the upcoming campaign.
The main reason for the deal not happening was a result of the £70m Nottingham Forest were asking to part ways with Gibbs-White, as Man City were not willing to match that fee.
It has also been reported that Man City knew negotiations with Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, were unlikely to run smoothly, and with the Manchester club wanting a new midfielder in before travelling to the FIFA Club World Cup, they opted to move for Reijnders instead.
Player Games Goals Assists Minutes
Morgan Gibbs-White 38 7 10 3142
Tijjani Reijnders 57 15 5 4861
Morgan Gibbs-White and Tijjani Reijnders 24/25 stats
A move for Gibbs-White may have still been on the cards this summer, due to the uncertainty over Nico Gonzalez’s future at Man City, but that is unlikely to happen now that Nottingham Forest have sold Elanga.
The Premier League club are set to compete in the Europa Conference League next season and will not want to sell many of their best players ahead of their return to Europe, while they are also under no pressure to do so, as the English star has a contract at the City Ground until 2027.
If Man City are to add to their midfield before the new season gets underway, they will have to look at other, cheaper options on their list, as Gibbs-White is now off the cards.