Newcastle United have had a £45million bid for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga rejected, with the City Ground club wanting at least £60million for the Sweden international.
Forest stand firm on Elanga valuation
Forest are in a strong position to demand a high fee for Elanga, who has been a key player for them since joining from Manchester United in 2023. The 23-year-old has scored 11 goals and provided 21 assists in all competitions for Forest, helping them qualify for the Conference League last season.
Forest paid £15million for Elanga two years ago, so they would make a significant profit if they sold him for £60million. However, they are under no pressure to sell, as Elanga is under contract until 2028 and has expressed his happiness at the club.
In December, Elanga told The Athletic that he had "no regrets" about leaving Manchester United, where he felt he was not improving as a player. He said that joining Forest had been "so big" for him, as he was playing regularly and felt like he had a "purpose".
Elanga's form for Forest has attracted interest from several clubs, but Newcastle are the first to make a formal bid. They are in the market for a new winger, as there is speculation about the future of Anthony Gordon, who has been linked with a £100million move to Liverpool.
Newcastle's need for a new winger
Newcastle's interest in Elanga suggests that they are planning for life without Gordon, who has been a key player for them since joining from Everton last year. However, they may need to increase their offer significantly if they want to persuade Forest to sell.
Liverpool's interest in Gordon also complicates matters, as Newcastle may not want to sell him to a rival club. They may prefer to keep him and look for another winger elsewhere, but Elanga's form for Forest makes him an attractive option.
The situation is likely to develop over the coming weeks, as the transfer window enters its final month. Both Newcastle and Liverpool are expected to be active in the market, while Forest will be hoping to keep hold of their star player.
