Sweden’s Elanga impressed by Northern Ireland
Sweden’s Anthony Elanga said Northern Ireland are a “really good young team” and praised goalkeeper Pierce Charles, despite dominating Michael O’Neill’s young side in the Stockholm friendly.
Nottingham Forest striker Elanga was on the scoresheet in Sweden’s 5-1 win on Tuesday night, but thinks the beaten visitors are heading in the right direction under O’Neill.
“I’ve been watching Northern Ireland and I think they’re really good, they’ve got a really good manager.
“You’ve got a really good, young team that play football, play good football. I really enjoy watching you guys play.”
Elanga knows a number of O’Neill’s squad and believes 19-year-old goalkeeper Charles, who won his sixth cap at the Strawberry Arena, is an “amazing” prospect.
“I know a few of the players, Ethan Galbraith who I played with at [Manchester] United, the Charles brothers [who were products of the Manchester City youth system].
“He [Pierce] is an amazing goalkeeper by the way, he’s got a bright future.”
Sweden’s victory came without Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski and Sporting Lisbon striker Victor Gyokeres.
Elanga said he was “not at all” frustrated to start the game on the bench, especially with Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton on Saturday.
“Coming on, I wanted to make an impact and score and that’s what I did.
“It’s important to stay fit and healthy because I’ve got a lot of games coming up for Nottingham Forest.”
Chelsea have officially announced the signing of midfielder Dario Essugo in an £18m deal from Sporting.
The transfer was agreed in March, alongside the signing of winger Geovany Quenda, who will move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Essugo, 20, has been on loan at La Liga side Las Palmas this season.
He will join Chelsea for the Club World Cup and is expected to back up Moises Caicedo.
Chelsea have expressed their interest to AC Milan in signing France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The 29-year-old has been a regular for Milan since joining them on a five-year contract from Lille in 2021.
He has also been first choice for France since Hugo Lloris retired from international football in January 2023.
Chelsea have learned that doing a deal for Maignan is a possibility, because the goalkeeper would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
Blues have struggled to find a long-term option in goal since buying Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018 for £71m, which remains the world-record fee for a goalkeeper.
Two years later they brought in Edouard Mendy, who left for Al-Ahli in 2023, while Kepa has spent the past two seasons on loan at Real Madrid and then Bournemouth.
