Arsenal are reportedly preparing to thwart Newcastle United’s advances by launching a £60 million bid for Nottingham Forest’s flourishing winger, Anthony Elanga. The 23-year-old, who departed Manchester United for a £15 million transfer to Forest before the 2023/24 season, has significantly elevated his profile, becoming an integral player for the Premier League side.
With an impressive tally of 33 goal involvements across 82 appearances, Elanga was instrumental in propelling Forest into the Europa League for the coming season. Unsurprisingly, his standout performances have garnered interest from a cluster of top clubs, Newcastle being among the most keen.
The Magpies had already seen a £45 million offer rejected as they continue their pursuit of Elanga, who is valued closer to £60 million. Having missed out on securing Joao Pedro to Chelsea, Newcastle are now at risk of losing out again, with Arsenal reportedly circling.
According to sources within The Boot Room, the Gunners are eyeing a bold hijack of Newcastle’s ambitions, setting their sights on Elanga as the potential key addition to their attacking ranks this summer. Arsenal’s strategic planning is well underway, with their first quartet of signings nearing completion. Beyond these, the club remains in the hunt for a new striker and winger to bolster their squad.
Elanga has not only captured Newcastle’s attention; his name features prominently on the summer shopping lists of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa. Rumours suggest that discussions have been initiated between his representatives and interested parties beyond Newcastle.
Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, is concurrently evaluating other offensive talents including Rodrygo, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and Mohammed Kudus. Nevertheless, Elanga remains a valued option for the North London club, even if concrete moves have yet to materialise.
In other Arsenal developments, speculation swirls around the future of Gabriel Martinelli. Journalist Ben Jacobs notes that the Brazilian winger is being considered by Al-Nassr as a contingency plan, should their pursuit of Liverpool’s Luis Díaz fall through. While Arsenal are not proactively looking to offload Martinelli and have commenced preliminary talks regarding a contract extension, Al-Nassr is poised to test their resolve with a substantial offer.
Additionally, Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich has expressed interest in Martinelli following a mixed 2024/25 campaign, prompting speculation about his standing at Arsenal.
READ MORE FOOTBALL TRANSFER NEWS: