What Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga said about Newcastle as transfer interest re-emerges
Newcastle have returned with an enquiry for the Swedish international winger having seen a £35m rejected for him on deadline day in last summer’s transfer window
Newcastle United have returned for Anthony Elanga and made a transfer enquiry for the Nottingham Forest winger, according to reports.
After last summer’s deadline-day bid, Newcastle are back in for the 23-year-old Sweden international, according to the Daily Mail, with discussions at an early stage.
On the final day of last year’s transfer window, Newcastle made a £35m offer for Elanga but it was swiftly rejected.
And the Mail suggest a fee of at least £50m would be needed for a deal to be considered this time around for Forest to let Elanga join the Champions League qualifiers.
The Reds are in a strong position to hold out for big money with three years remaining on Elanga’s deal at the City Ground.
Joining from Manchester United for £15m, Elanga has been a huge hit at Forest. After five goals and nine assists in his maiden season, he registered six goals and 12 assists in the Premier League this past campaign.
He’s been a reliable presence too, playing in all but one of Forest’s 44 matches across all competitions this season.
Last September, a week after Newcastle’s attempted move for him, Elanga addressed the interest, telling Swedish media: “The environment in Nottingham is good. It is clear that you can see that Newcastle are interested, it means that I am playing good football when a big club shows interest.
“But Nottingham is also a big club, they have won two Champions Leagues, even though it was before I was born. But I’m happy in Nottingham and have a contract there.
“I’m focusing on Nottingham and hope to have a good season, then we’ll see what happens.
“(Alexander) 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.”
Elanga is currently away with Sweden and payed 90 minutes in their 2-0 friendly win over Hungary on Friday night.
