Anthony Elanga has caught the eye of Newcastle United once more, with the Nottingham Forest star addressing the latest rumours while on international duty.
Newcastle are interested in Elanga for the second summer in a row, after Evangelos Marinakis wouldn’t entertain The Magpies’ offers in 2024.
As deadline day approached last summer, Newcastle were willing to pay £35m for Elanga, but reports suggest that a fee closer to £50m will be required to tempt Forest into negotiations.
While this transfer drama plays out, Elanga has been away representing Sweden on international duty, where he was quizzed on the Newcastle rumours after beating Hungary in a friendly.
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images
Anthony Elanga responds to Newcastle United transfer rumours
Elanga is happy at Forest but the temptation of Champions League football with Newcastle would understandably get him thinking about a potential move.
However, speaking to Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen, he was quick to quash any talk of a move to the North East.
He said: “There’s a lot of talk. I’m focusing on what I can do and my focus today was on the game. In football there are always rumors. The most important thing is that I focus on what I can control.”
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A diplomatic answer, but Forest fans can take some comfort in how little he was willing to engage in the story, as being away on international duty and speaking to the press in a different language can often lead to players being more direct with their responses.
Elanga being away on international duty may quieten the rumours for the time being, but his relationship with fellow Swede and Newcastle star Alexander Isak will be of concern to Marinakis.
Anthony Elanga is friends with Newcastle star Alexander Isak
Luckily, Isak is not part of this round of international fixtures, given his past tendency to speak to Elanga about a move to St James’ Park.
Back in September 2024, Elanga was speaking once more to Fotbollskanalen, where he revealed what Isak had told him about a move to Newcastle.
Elanga 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.”
Clearly something for Nuno Espírito Santo to be worried about, Forest’s negotiating position would be seriously harmed if Elanga was convinced of the move by Isak.
For now at least, though, Elanga has cooled any talk of a switch to Newcastle as Eddie Howe’s side scramble to find the funds to match Forest’s demands.