“99% done”: Elanga absent from Nottingham Forest pre-season training after £55M Newcastle United bid

Newcastle United’s pursuit of Anthony Elanga has entered a crucial stage, with a £55 million bid already submitted to Nottingham Forest and discussions ongoing to finalize the structure of the potential deal.

While Forest have yet to formally reject the offer, both parties remain locked in negotiations, working through the finer details that could ultimately determine whether the Swedish winger makes the move to Tyneside this summer.

Elanga has emerged as a primary target for Newcastle as the club looks to strengthen its right-wing options ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The 23-year-old comes off the back of an impressive campaign with Nottingham Forest, where he contributed six goals and twelve assists, helping his side finish seventh in the Premier League and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

His versatility, pace, and ability to influence games in the final third have made him an ideal candidate for Eddie Howe’s plans as Newcastle aim to bolster their attack and improve on last season’s campaign.

The Swedish international is understood to be open to the move. He shares strong relationships with key Newcastle figures, including William Osula and national teammate Alexander Isak, which has further encouraged the Magpies in their efforts to bring him in.

Elanga’s desire to play European football and develop under Howe adds to the appeal of the potential switch.

On Monday, July 7, both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest’s senior squads resumed pre-season training. However, Elanga was notably absent from Forest’s group, though his absence was expected.

He had featured for Sweden in a 2-0 win over Hungary last month and was granted additional time off following his international duties. The winger had initially been named in the squad to face Algeria in a friendly but withdrew due to personal reasons.

This additional time off is common practice for players who have had extended summer responsibilities, and similar allowances have been given to Newcastle’s own Tino Livramento and William Osula following their participation in the Under-21 European Championship.

Livramento was named in the tournament’s best XI after a standout performance that helped England secure back-to-back titles, while Osula impressed for Denmark with three goals in the group stages.

At Newcastle, Lewis Hall continues his individual training program as he works his way back from injury, while Joelinton is expected to rejoin full training after missing the latter part of last season.

In Elanga’s case, while his absence from Forest’s training raised questions, he’s far from idle. The winger has been in the Algarve region of Portugal, stepping up his fitness work at the Browns Sport Resort in Vilamoura.

On Monday morning, he was spotted at Estadio De Municipal Quarteira, working under the guidance of sports therapist Simon O’Brien and strength and conditioning coach Tom Joyce.

His dedication to staying sharp during this critical transfer period has not gone unnoticed and reflects his readiness for the next challenge, wherever that may be.

The real question now is whether Elanga will return to Forest’s camp or if a deal with Newcastle will materialize in time. With the pre-season clock ticking, the Magpies are keen to have him integrated into the squad as soon as possible.

Alongside Elanga, Newcastle continue to work on a deal for goalkeeper James Trafford, another top priority for the club. Although progress has been slow on both fronts, the club remains confident that deals will be finalized in time for their pre-season opener against Celtic on July 19.

Supporters have grown increasingly eager to see new arrivals confirmed, and the lack of early signings has started to test patience. Yet, within the club, optimism persists.

The groundwork has been laid, negotiations are active, and the hope is that both Elanga and Trafford will be wearing black and white before the team steps out in Glasgow.

The silence around Elanga’s future, for now, appears to signal that the deal is very much alive—just waiting for the final pieces to fall into place.