Six Anthony Elanga positives and two looming questions as Newcastle United make £55m move

After a lengthy wait for fresh faces through the door, Newcastle United are on the cusp of kickstarting a summer spending spree with the arrival of Anthony Elanga.

There is still some way to go before the deal can cross the line but confidence is certainly growing over the Nottingham Forest flyer becoming the Magpies' first, senior signing of the 2025 summer window. For Eddie Howe, a player of Elanga's ilk would offer much-needed competition and additional firepower at the top end of the pitch.

But how will the deal be received? Is the former Manchester United star the man to lead Newcastle forward? Is £55million too much, or just right, in today's market? Chronicle Live takes a deep dive into the pros and cons of a potential Elanga arrival.

Plenty of positives to discuss

Newcastle's frustrating summer gets moving

For starters, let us celebrate arguably the biggest positive of them all - Newcastle United signing a first-team player who could walk straight into Howe's starting XI.

Should the transfer materialise, as expected, in the coming days, it will bring an end to an agonising wait - both this summer and in windows past - for a shiny new addition inside St James' Park.

Frustration has been building, externally, at the lack of business this summer in particular. After missing out on big-name Premier League targets such as Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, Newcastle need a quick win to calm growing fears.

Elanga's arrival will do that. Add Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford into the mix and those long-held nerves will turn to full-blown excitement.

Finally some much-needed right-wing competition

Jacob Murphy enjoyed the best season of his career last term, helping himself to 20 goal contributions as United qualified for the Champions League after a year hiatus from the competition. The wide man was an integral part of Howe's, shrugging off any previous criticism around his suitability for football at the highest level.

Murphy has had to do it alone, too. After Miguel Almiron's January exit, it could be argued the former West Bromwich Albion loanee is classed as the only, natural right-winger at the club. Of course, William Osula, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon have all been deployed on that particular flank but are all better suited in other areas of the frontline.

Elanga, crucially, can play on both flanks - a big positive in the eyes of Eddie Howe when pursuing an attacking option - but is better suited to a role on the right of a front three. Whether he walks straight into the starting XI remains to be seen, with Murphy in no hurry to give up his spot on the back of a stellar season, but at least Howe now has additional bodies in that particular area of the squad.

Howe doesn't give up - and is rewarded

Newcastle have made a habit of pursuing talents for more than one window and refusing to take no for an answer when it comes to players Eddie Howe really admires. Sven Botman's capture took the best part of half a year, while Anthony Gordon was admired heavily in the summer of 2022 before his eventual January 2023 arrival.

Elanga's pursuit has followed a similar pattern. United have tracked his progress at the City Ground for some time.

A last-gasp £45m bid was sent on deadline day last summer, while Newcastle have tried their luck with lower offers in this very window. The same could be said for Joao Pedro - a player Howe wanted to sign during his time as a Watford player in 2022 and this summer before his move to Chelsea.

Pace, power and a lot more to like

As for Elanga's talents, there is a lot to like. Unbelievable pace, raw power, strong positional awareness, unpredictable dribbling and bags of experience at only 23.

Elanga ranked as the fifth-fastest Premier League footballer last term, clocking up speeds of 36.2km/h. The prior campaign saw him top the charts for attacking speed, with a top pace of 36.91 km/h; a 7.7% increase on his previous season’s high.

"First of all I look at the backline, to see if it's high or not," Elanga said 12 months ago, when quizzed on his electric pace. "The most important thing is timing. In a game I look for eye contact, with whoever is in midfield, then from there I just make my run."

A front three of Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Elanga could be the most frighteningly fast in the top flight next season.

The age profile box is ticked

In windows gone by, Newcastle have sought a balanced blend of youth and experience as they plotted their way to the top. For every Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn purchase, there was a Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall-shaped buy soon after.

This summer, the message is clear. United want new additions who can kick on into the future.

Elanga is 23, while fellow transfer target Trafford is 22. Marc Guehi has previously been admired and pursued at the age of 24.

These are players Howe can mould, and improve, as he has already proven capable of doing with the likes of Livramento, Hall, Gordon and Sandro Tonali. This particular transfer offers a similar feeling to the capture of Gordon in 2023; slight uncertainty over the fee and the player's ability but a high ceiling to work towards.

Isak and Osula welcome a friend to Tyneside

'Agent' Will Osula, take a bow. Newcastle United's enthusiastic forward is receiving plaudits on social media for his apparent off-field work in getting Elanga to St James' Park.

The young duo, both of Scandinavian descent, are close friends away from the pitch and have spent periods of their respective summer breaks in each other's company, often adding fuel to the fire with social media posts together.

Elanga also shares a understandably solid relationship with international team-mates Alexander Isak and Emil Krafth, and while there is no evidence the former will be pushing for a St James' Park exit this summer, it can't hurt Newcastle's mission of keeping Isak at the club long into the future by signing a close fiend and attacking counterpart.

The negatives - and why they can be explained away

A lack of goals....

Elanga played all 38 of Nottingham Forest's Premier League games last season (another positive) but only found the net on six occasions. Naturally, some fans have argued whether a return of that nature warrants such a substantial fee.

However, Elanga did rank third in the top flight assist charts, with 11 to his name, and over the last two seasons has registered more league assists [20] than the likes of Cole Palmer [19], Bukayo Saka [19] and Bruno Fernandes [18].

For reference, the season before Gordon arrived at St James' Park saw him net four times in 35 Premier League games. His first full campaign under Howe brought a return of 11 goals and 15 assists in 35 top flight encounters.

Is £55m too much money?

Rival fans will likely take great pleasure in Newcastle spending a good chunk of money on a player who, like most signings, comes with risks attached. There will even some of a black and white persuasion who will be buoyed by Elanga's arrival, while also wondering whether they have paid too much.

It matters little. Nottingham Forest do not want to lose a first-team regular unless they are greatly compensated, while Eddie Howe and Newcastle want a right-winger who is Premier League proven, young, hungry and ticks multiple other boxes.

It is worth taking a look at this summer's market and deals done elsewhere for some much-needed context. Matheus Cunha cost Manchester United £62.5m, while the Red Devils may have to part with over £65m for Bryan Mbeumo.

That is clearly the benchmark this summer for exciting, attacking talent. Premier League clubs, forced to sell, now essentially have leverage and an excuse to hike prices up given the inflated deals already done in this market.

Additionally, Gordon cost Newcastle a total of £45m and has proved every penny in the years since. Bruno Guimaraes, Isak, Livramento, Hall, Tonali and others have all seen their monetary value skyrocket in recent years and there is nothing to suggest Howe won't be able to turn Elanga into a £100m player in the next few seasons too.