Elanga is flying into the North-East from his training base in Portugal, where he had been working on his own after being granted an extended period of leave by Nottingham Forest. He is due to begin his medical this evening, with further tests planned for the morning.
Weeks of negotiations between Newcastle and Forest officials finally resulted in a breakthrough when the two parties agreed a deal for the Swedish winger. Newcastle will pay an initial fee of £52m, with a further £3m of potential add-ons also having been agreed.
Elanga has already agreed the personal terms of what is expected to be a five-year contract, so provided there are no unforeseen issues, the 23-year-old should be confirmed as the Magpies’ first summer signing in the next 24 hours.
He will join his new team-mates for pre-season training at Darsley Park next Monday, although it remains to be seen whether he is considered for Newcastle’s opening summer friendly at Celtic on July 19.
The Magpies have long tracked Elanga and made an initial breakthrough at the end of last week when a deal was agreed with Forest.
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However, an issue with agents held up the deal, and it was feared at the weekend that the transfer could have been on the brink of collapse. Instead, a resolution was agreed on Monday, enabling Newcastle to arrange Elanga’s travel to Tyneside.
The breakthrough is a major boost for Eddie Howe, who has been keen to strengthen on the right side of Newcastle’s attack since last summer. Elanga, who was the subject of an unsuccessful Magpies bid of around £45m on deadline day last summer, has always been a leading target.
The 23-year-old played in all of Forest’s 38 Premier League games last season, scoring six goals and registering 11 assists. Manchester United, Elanga’s former club, are due to receive a significant sell-on fee from the move.
James Trafford is still expected to follow Elanga through the door at St James’ Park, with Newcastle also looking to sign a centre-half and a versatile forward this summer.
There are also likely to be a number of exits in the next couple of months, with Sean Longstaff the subject of a £12m offer from Leeds United.
Leeds are understood to have bid an initial £10m, with a further £2m of potential add-ons, for Longstaff, who has just 12 months to run on his existing contract.
The 27-year-old midfielder didn’t start a single Premier League game for Newcastle in the second half of last season, with his most recent league start having come in December’s 4-2 defeat at Brentford.
The Magpies are currently considering Leeds’ offer, with the Elland Road club having made it known that they are unwilling to go any higher for a player who is due to become a free agent in less than 12 months’ time.
Longstaff is a boyhood Newcastle fan, but is understood to have accepted that he will have to leave Tyneside this summer in order to secure regular first-team football. He regards newly-promoted Leeds as an attractive proposition.
Leeds have also expressed an interest in Nick Pope, but the Newcastle goalkeeper does not want to leave St James’ Park, even if the Magpies complete the signing of Trafford.
Pope, who like Longstaff has one year of his current contract remaining, is aware of Leeds’ interest, but wants to remain with Newcastle to fight for his first-team place next season.
