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Manchester United have missed out on a major windfall following Nottingham Forest’s rejection of a Newcastle bid for Carrington academy graduate Anthony Elanga.
Elanga left United two years ago to join Forest, where he has enjoyed a dramatic uptick in form and fortunes.
He made 55 appearances and scored four goals for United, but was ultimately cast aside by Erik ten Hag, who doubted his ability to reach the required level. That decision followed a season in which he managed just five Premier League starts in 2022/23.
United sold him for £15m.
The forward was a key part of Forest’s success last term, featuring in all 38 Premier League games as they finished in seventh place and clinched European football.
Elanga scored six goals and registered 11 assists.
A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Forest are facing a battle to keep Elanga, whose performances have attracted the interest of Newcastle. The Magpies have a long-standing admiration for the Swede and have failed with previous attempts to lure him to their ranks.
Earlier on Tuesday, David Ornstein of The Athletic revealed that Newcastle lodged an official bid worth £45m for Elanga. This was swiftly turned down without a counter by Forest, who have no intention of parting ways with the player.
It’s understood Newcastle are weighing up whether to make another bid or move on to other targets. Forest will only consider selling Elanga for a sum north of £60m.
Forest’s decision to reject Newcastle’s offer has denied United a significant windfall, with the Red Devils having included a sell-on clause in the deal that sent Elanga to the City Ground.
It was a shrewd bit of business that could have earned United millions of pounds. These funds would have likely gone straight into Ruben Amorim’s summer transfer budget.
For a club like United, which is reliant on sales to fund new signings after securing Matheus Cunha and closing in on Bryan Mbeumo, this financial boost would have been a timely and valuable addition.
Manchester Evening News reports that it’s unclear what percentage of any fee or potential profit United would be entitled to from Elanga’s sale.
United will be hoping that Newcastle return with an improved financial package.
Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images
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