Nottingham Forest are reportedly targeting a promising young player from the Premier League as a potential replacement for Anthony Elanga, amidst ongoing interest from Newcastle United in signing the Swedish winger.
Forest`s Efforts to Retain Elanga
Forest successfully retained Elanga last summer, a decision that significantly contributed to their strong performance at the City Ground. However, interest in the winger persists, with financially strong Newcastle reportedly making an initial inquiry about the ex-Manchester United player. This indicates Forest may again face a challenge in keeping one of their key assets.
When recently questioned about his future at Nottingham Forest while representing Sweden internationally, Elanga offered a cautious response to reporters:
“There’s a lot of talk. I’m focusing on what I can do and my focus today was on the game. In football, there are always rumors. The most important thing is that I focus on what I can control.”
Despite a successful season, failing to secure Champions League qualification could lead to concerns at the City Ground regarding the potential departure of Nuno Espirito Santo`s key players this summer.
Meanwhile, owner Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly already planning new signings. Forest has recently been linked with players like Igor Jesus and Real Valladolid`s Raul Moro. Furthermore, reports suggest the club is interested in acquiring a promising Premier League talent should Elanga depart for Newcastle this summer.
Assessing a Move for Oscar Bobb
According to Mick Brown of Football Insider, Marinakis is evaluating a potential summer move for Manchester City`s Oscar Bobb. The young winger recently recovered from a significant injury and is likely eager for consistent playing time to regain his form.
Former Premier League scout Mick Brown commented to Football Insider that a Premier League loan is ideal for Bobb:
“A Premier League loan move is exactly what Bobb needs. After the injury he had, he has to prove to everybody that he is still capable at this level.
“It’s difficult to come back from something like that, he has some proving to do, but he has to be playing regularly to do it. If you take him out of that Man City side and put him in another Premier League team, a Crystal Palace or a Nottingham Forest, it will show where he’s at. Palace and Forest are both clubs I’ve heard are having a look at the deal.”
Pep Guardiola regards the 21-year-old as having `incredible potential,` but his immediate future might involve a move to the City Ground. At Forest, he could potentially fill the gap left by Elanga and recover his peak performance after a challenging injury period.
