The first was the sale of Elliot Anderson that had become essential due to the Magpies’ perilous PSR position. In the end, the deal for Anderson created the need to purchase Odysseas Vlachodimos, and by the end of last June, a double transfer had been agreed that satisfied both Newcastle and Forest’s needs. It wasn’t the only potential move discussed though.
As part of their talks with the hierarchy at the City Ground, Newcastle officials also raised the possibility of signing Anthony Elanga. Their initial entreaties did not go down well. But, unperturbed, they returned to the table on deadline day last August to offer a package worth around £45m that was rejected before the window swung shut. Forest didn’t want to sell one of their prime assets. And they certainly didn’t want to see him leave so close to the deadline, when securing a replacement would have been pretty much impossible.
Case closed? That’s not really how Newcastle have operated in the last few years. Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento were all signed after initial moves had faltered, with Newcastle backing their judgement and assessing that the respective player’s parent club would eventually return to the table and shift their negotiating position. Improving the right-sided attacking position had been a priority for at least three successive windows, and while Jacob Murphy played out of his skin last season, the January departure of Miguel Almiron had accentuated the need for a reinforcement.
There was always a high likelihood of Newcastle turning back to Elanga, and while Bryan Mbeumo was initially regarded as the Magpies’ priority target, it quickly became clear that the Brentford forward had become fixated on a move to Manchester United. With Mbeumo out of the equation, Eddie Howe and the rest of Newcastle’s recruitment team, remodelled in the wake of Paul Mitchell’s departure, honed in on Elanga.
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Why? Because the Swede ticks all the boxes Howe felt were essential. He’s young, at 23, but boasts a wealth of experience, having already made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Manchester United and Forest. He’s proven in English football, with his 17 goal contributions last season making him one of the most effective creators in the league.
He boasts searing pace and electric counter-attacking capabilities, as evidenced by his performances with Forest in the last couple of seasons, but also excels in the kind of high-pressing, high-energy style Howe has developed at St James’ Park. And he’s versatile. For all that he has made the vast majority of his Forest appearances as a right-sided forward, he has also briefly played on the left and as a central striker.
Howe primarily wants Elanga to play on the right of the front three in his preferred 4-3-3 formation. But given that is far from certain that Newcastle will be able to recruit an out-and-out centre-forward to replace Callum Wilson this summer, signing a player who could move around the front three makes a lot of sense.
Having made the decision to make a renewed move for Elanga, it then became a matter of agreeing on price. For all that Newcastle’s PSR position has improved significantly this summer, the margins the club are operating to remain tight. Adamant they are not going to be selling any of their prize assets in the current window, the Magpies know they cannot afford to overpay for any of the players they are targeting.
In the end, the Newcastle hierarchy think they have negotiated a fair deal. An up-front payment of £52m is more than they were offering last summer, but that reflects the extent to which Elanga progressed with Forest last season. With another successful season under his belt, senior Magpies sources claim they are signing a better player than the one they were pursuing 12 months ago. A number of add-ons have been included in the deal, but they are not particularly expensive, and even if Elanga does extremely well in a Newcastle shirt, there is no guarantee they will be triggered.
This has been a difficult summer for Newcastle, for lost of different reasons. Personnel changes, unsuccessful bids, targets heading elsewhere. Internally, there has been no sense of panic. But with Howe’s senior squad returning for pre-season, it felt as though a positive breakthrough was required. The signing of Elanga provides that. As a transfer, it has been more than a year in the making. Eventually, though, good things come to those who wait.
