Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest
Newcastle are interested in Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United will have to pay in the region of £50m to land transfer target Anthony Elanga this summer, after reports of a fresh enquiry to Nottingham Forest emerged overnight.
The Magpies have monitored the 23-year-old's progress for some time, having made a late move for the Swede in the last throes of the 2024 summer window.
Forest's asking price meant the deal did not get any further than an initial enquiry just before deadline day last year, but United have continued to keep a close eye on the former Manchester United youngster.
While Jacob Murphy has enjoyed an excellent season for Newcastle, the right-hand side of the forward line is an area Eddie Howe and Co are keen to strengthen, particularly following Miguel Almiron's exit in January.
Having already moved away from interest in Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo after hearing the winger's wage demands, United are ready to move on other targets, with a strong shortlist already prepared. Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Tyler Dibling of Southampton have been watched, but their pricetags could prove too expensive for Newcastle at this stage.
Forest are in a strong position and are not thought to need to sell to meet any PSR issues this month, meaning the City Ground club will be able to hold out for their asking price on stars such as Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is already looking to strengthen his side, however, with a bid for three Botafogo players - Igor Jesus, Cuiabano, and Jair Cunha.
They are thought to value Elanga at around the £50m mark, which could be within United's budget. Significantly, it is not thought that the Swede will demand the astronomical wages others could ask for in transfer negotiations.
Elanga featured in every Premier League game for Forest this season, something which will no doubt appeal to Howe, particularly with the rigours of a Champions League campaign on the horizon. He scored eight times in all competitions last term, but contributed an impressive 12 assists as Forest qualified for the UEFA Confernce League and made the FA Cup semi-finals.
An international team-mate of Alexander Isak with Sweden, Elanga confirmed he has spoken to the United star last autumn after Newcastle's initial interest.
Speaking in September 2024, he said: "Isak talked to me about it. But I said the same to him as I say to you. We have a good relationship and good chemistry when we play together. But I have a contract with Nottingham."
He is under contract at Forest until 2028, but with an inerest in £50m-rated Marc Guehi too, it remains to be seen whether United will look to follow up their equiry with a firm bid in the coming weeks.
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.