NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 11: Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga gestures during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Leicester City FC at City Ground on May 11, 2025 in Nottingham, England.
Newcastle United are making a serious push to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest, according to a report by David Ornstein of The Athletic.
After an initial bid of £45 million was rejected, the Magpies have returned with an improved offer worth over £50 million plus bonuses.
The interest is long-standing. Newcastle were keen on the Swedish international last summer, and their renewed pursuit signals real intent to bolster Eddie Howe’s attacking options.
At just 23 years old, Elanga has impressed since joining Forest from Manchester United for £15 million in July 2023. He played every Premier League match last season, tallying six goals and 11 assists. That contribution helped Forest secure an unexpected seventh-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Conference League.
Elanga’s appeal is obvious. He’s versatile — capable of playing on both flanks — and combines blistering speed with high footballing intelligence. Newcastle’s system under Howe thrives on quick transitions, and Elanga fits that mould perfectly.
“Elanga’s ability to dribble at a high speed while making wise decisions means he is a threat when his team wins the ball and attacks an unstructured defence,” The Athletic analysis notes.
Manchester United could also benefit from this transfer. Due to a significant sell-on clause from the initial £15 million sale to Forest, United are in line for a financial boost should the transfer go through.
The initial structure of last summer’s offer included Miguel Almiron in a part-exchange deal — valued at £5 million — but with the Paraguayan now at Atlanta United, the cash-only nature of the current proposal signals Newcastle’s urgency.
From Forest’s perspective, holding firm on Elanga’s value makes sense. The winger is coming off a standout season and remains under contract. But the prospect of turning a £15 million investment into more than triple the return — in just two years — may prove too tempting, especially with squad reinforcements needed for European competition.
