Newcastle United made the move this summer as Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga.
Magpies have led the race and signed a bid for a former Manchester United player in the £55 million region.
It’s not a problem to agree to personal terms with the player, and his arrival will solve a major problem for Eddie Howe and his team.
The Magpie manager desperately needs a wide range of attackers for his team, and Elanga fits the profile of the player he is looking for.
He showed Forest’s goalscoring and goal-creating ability last season, and his individual performances have attracted the attention of clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham.
Newcastle United rejected Forest’s approach to Murphy
As part of the discussion with Newcastle, Nottingham Forest reportedly proposed a swap deal in exchange for Elanga that saw Jacob Murphy move to the city’s ground.
However, according to Talksport journalist Alex Crook, Howe quickly rejected the proposal because of his respect for Murphy’s contribution to the Newcastle team.
“When Forest and Newcastle were talking about the potential deals for Elanga late in the winter window, my understanding was that Forest actually wanted to partially replace Murphy (Jacob) Murphy.
Howe hopes for Murphy in Newcastle next season
Murphy, who has become a reliable option under Howe, is appreciated not only for his diversity beyond frontline and wing back positions, but also for his positive influence in the dressing room.
Newcastle’s refusal to say goodbye to Murphy will maintain the dressing room culture strongly to compete on multiple fronts next season, highlighting the club’s commitment to maintaining room depth.
Next season’s Champions League football puts additional pressure on Howe and his team, and he will need the depth of his team to deal with the crowds of fixtures.
It is still unclear whether Newcastle will eventually sign Elanga, but if so, it will not involve Murphy’s departure.
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