Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga is closing in on a £52m transfer to Newcastle United.
Nottingham Forest fans are disappointed to see Anthony Elanga leave, and some have suggested it shows a lack of ambition from the club.
However, the overriding feeling is that Nottingham Forest will replace well, as they did when Brennan Johnson left for Tottenham Hotspur.
Indeed, the process of finding Anthony Elanga’s successor has already begun and has likely been ongoing for a number of weeks.
After speaking to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, we can now exclusively reveal who Forest are targeting as potential replacements.
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Nottingham Forest four-man shortlist to replace Anthony Elanga
Speaking to Nottingham Forest News, Bailey has revealed the four wingers who Nuno Espirito Santo and his chiefs are looking at to replace Elanga.
“Forest like Bakayoko but I’m not sure it’s as advanced as some are saying to be honest, but he’s on the list,” the journalist explained.
“Yilmaz is still in the picture, Omari Hutchinson at Ipswich and Simon Adingra at Brighton is an interesting one. There’s a whole host of options out there.”
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Forest are expected to open talks to sign Bakayoko, however, they’re evidently still assessing a number of other targets.
Adingra, who Brighton previously valued at around £50m, is a new name that’s come to light. His pace and trickery would certainly suit Espirito Santo’s system.
Hutchinson would be a really exciting addition
Forest have had great success in recruiting young talent and developing them under Espirito Santo’s stewardship.
Elanga and Hudson-Odoi are prime examples of that, and Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson would certainly fit that model, too.
Hutchinson, who starred at the under-21s European Championships with England, is a left-footed right winger and is valued at around £30m.
The 21-year-old can also operate as a left-winger and in the number 10 role, so that versatility will certainly lend itself well to the Tricky Trees.
A telling couple of weeks await the East Midlanders.