Eddie Howe back in for Anthony Elanga – Player confirmed Newcastle United interest | OneFootball

Newcastle United have now made an approach to sign Anthony Elanga.

That news comes via a media exclusive from The Mail.

They report that talks are now in their early stages but Anthony Elanga could be set to be Eddie Howe’s first signing of the summer.

Nottingham Forest paid Manchester United £15m for Anthony Elanga in 2023 and The Mail state that their information is that it will take at least £50m for a deal to be done now by Newcastle United.

As was widely reported at the time, Newcastle United tried to sign Anthony Elanga at the end of June 2024. United had to sell one or more players in order to stay within three season PSR limits.

Nottingham Forest in the same position, so Newcastle sold Elliot Anderson to Forest and tried to get Anthony Elanga as the player coming the other way. Nuno and Forest wouldn’t agree to that, so Eddie Howe and Newcastle United forced into signing a different player from the City Ground, that ended up being Odysseas Vlachodimos.

That wasn’t the end of it last summer though with Newcastle United and Anthony Elanga. Once Palace decided in the very final stages of the window that it wouldn’t be possible for Marc Guehi to leave, Newcastle United very late on tried to get somebody for their other remaining priority position, but a widely reported £35m offer for right winger Anthony Elanga turned down by Nottingham Forest. Then finally, Sky Sports saying their information was that late on deadline day a £50m NUFC offer was turned down by Forest for Anthony Elanga.

Now of course, as Newcastle United fans we are all (quite rightly!) sceptical of transfer stories/reports, however, on this occasion there are reasons as to why we should take this Anthony Elanga more seriously than your average transfer claim.

Just after the summer 2024 transfer window ended, there was an international break. Sweden had matches and Anthony Elanga was asked by the media in Sweden about the reported interest from Newcastle United, very interesting that instead of just doing no comment, or brushing it off, the winger was actually happy to go public on Newcastle’s interest…

Anthony Elanga talking to Fotboll Skanalen regarding Newcastle United trying to sign him – 9 September 2024:

“It is clear you can see that Newcastle United are interested [in signing me].

“It means that I’m playing good football, when a big club shows interest.

“However, Nottingham Forest is also a big club.

“They have won two Champions Leagues, even though it was before I was born… but I am happy in Nottingham and have a contract there.

“I am focusing on Nottingham Forest and I hope to have a good season, then we will see what happens…

“Alexander Isak talked to me about it (Newcastle United interest in signing Anthony Elanga).

“However, I said the same to him, as I say to you.

“We have a good relationship and good chemistry when we play together [for Sweden] but I have a contract with Nottingham Forest…”

The Mail now report in their new Anthony Elanga exclusive, that Eddie Howe has extra interest in the Forest player because he has the ability to play in any position across the front line. His pace is of course a massive asset as well.

To back this versatility up, last night Sweden were without both Isak and Gyokeres, so in an impressive 2-0 away win against Hungary, Jon Dahl Tomasson played a 3-5-2 formation with Anthony Elanga up front alongside Nygren.