Tom, Nottingham: Re Graham 13:02 - it makes perfect sense, given Newcastle's squad was threadbare last time they were in the Champions League. This time out, two extra group games (plus at least one knockout double leg, I expect), plus a Carabao Cup to defend. Players can't play every game, even without injuries or suspension. Eddie Howe's job will be to rotate them effectively.

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Anthony Elanga was asked in April about his football role model.

"I always use the reference of Thierry Henry," he said. "I think he was really good at that, playing on the wing, up front, striker. I want to be able to add different traits to my game and be an unpredictable player."

The improvement in Elanga's game should come as no surprise, given he hired his own coach for individual work four years ago.

"I always said the best investment you can do is in yourself, it's in your body, because it is yourself that is going to get you to where you want to go," said Elanga.

"Why not invest in yourself? Maximise everything you can do, try and make sure you are in the best shape, best form always available. Availability is the best ability."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Nottingham Forest hold a long-term interest in PSV's Johan Bakayoko as attention turns to replacing Anthony Elanga.

The winger has been tracked by Forest for a number of years and they want two more wide players ahead of Elanga's £55m move to Newcastle, having also agreed to sell Ramon Sosa to Palmeiras.

A strong replacement for Elanga, Bakayoko scored 11 times as PSV won the Eredivisie ahead of Ajax last season.

The Belgium international, 22, has 18 caps and one goal for his country.

He made his senior PSV debut in 2022 and has scored 30 times in 119 appearances.

Image source, Getty Images

Hope you guys are having a great afternoon, and here is a recap of all the latest stories:

• Newcastle United have agreed a £55m fee with Nottingham Forest for Sweden winger Anthony Elanga.

• Reports suggest that Nottingham Forest may act quickly to bring in PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko as a replacement.
• Sunderland, meanwhile, are looking to complete a move for Club Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi.
• Villarreal's young French striker Thierno Barry is set for a medical at Everton. The 22-year-old is expected to fly into Merseyside today in order to complete the £27m deal.
• Spurs have added to their squad by bringing in Japanese defender Kota Takai. The 20-year-old will join on a five-year contract from J-League side Kawasaki Frontale, depending on international clearance and work permit.

Remember, your voice matters, so please do get involved by sending your messages via WhatsApp or text.

Newcastle United's current options on the wing include Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon, while new signing Antonio Cordero is also a winger.

Anthony Elanga is a right-winger who can play on either flank.

In April, he told Football Focus: "It’s important to be able to go both ways.

"During lockdown I trained a lot on my left foot. I trained for eight months just on my left foot. Constantly, just hitting the ball left foot, left foot, left foot!"

His pace is a key feature of his game and will be a huge asset for Newcastle if they sign the player, while Elanga has also shown defensive discipline under Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest.

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If Newcastle manage to get the Anthony Elanga deal over the line, they are getting a player who managed to play the whole of last season for Nottingham Forest without getting injured.

The Sweden forward, 23, featured in every one of their 38 Premier League games, playing 2,511 minutes, starting in 31 of these and appearing as a substitute on seven occasions.

He scored six times but provided an impressive 11 assists - only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (18) and Newcastle's Jacob Murphy (12) managed more.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

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Anthony Elanga's proposed £55m move from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United could have both a positive and negative impact on Manchester United's transfer budget.

On the one hand, the Old Trafford outfit stand to benefit from a sell-on clause should former player Elanga leave Forest for Newcastle, which Talksport, external suggests could be £8m.

But with Manchester United yet to agree a fee with Brentford for top target Bryan Mbeumo, Elanga's £55m valuation may be used as a yardstick by the Bees to convince them to hold out for an even bigger fee.

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Anthony Elanga came through the academy at Manchester United before making his Premier League debut for the Red Devils on 11 May, 2021 aged 19 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge.

Elanga started the 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City. United's starting XI that day included Mason Greenwood, while Marcus Rashford started on the bench.

His first United goal came in the very next game, a 2-1 win at Wolves on 23 May 2021.

Elanga left United in July 2023 when Forest are believed to have paid a fee of £15m for the then 21-year-old.

Elanga had been with United since he was 12 and reached 55 senior appearances before his move to Forest.

At the time, Elanga said: "I've been here with United. It's a special place, but being here with Forest, I feel like it will be even more special. I'm ready for the challenge."

Eddie Howe sat in front of us at St James' Park on the final day of the season after qualifying for the Champions League and stated very clearly the importance of getting deals done quickly.

It will be hugely frustrating for him and Newcastle's fans that this has not happened.

Joao Pedro, a prime target, went to Chelsea and Liam Delap – another player on Howe's list - did the same. The attempts to sign Antony Elanga from Nottingham Forest are dragging on.

Howe will really want some movement soon because, for all the success of last season in winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the Champions League, his squad was thin beyond his main first-choice team.

Newcastle need to start doing deals quickly or those frustrations will grow.

Newcastle United

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Newcastle have agreed a £55m fee with Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga, but would Eddie Howe liked to have done more business so far this summer?

The Newcastle boss has brought in 18-year-old Spanish winger Antonio Cordero since the end of last season following the expiry of his contract with Malaga on 1 July.

Meanwhile, Jamal Lewis, Lloyd Kelly and Callum Wilson have all left.

The EFL Cup winners have been linked with Manchester City's Jack Grealish after Manchester City set an asking price of £40m, according to a report in the Sun., external

Meanwhile, Talksport are reporting, external Newcastle have held fresh talks with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with manager Howe a long-term admirer of the striker,

BBC iPlayer

The BBC's search to find a new football expert is under way, with 12 content creators competing in Last Pundit Standing to win a role as BBC Sport's next football content creator.

The first two episodes of the show - co-hosted by former Watford captain Troy Deeney and YouTuber and football presenter James Allcott - are available to watch on iPlayer, as well as BBC Sport's YouTube channel and TikTok account, with new episodes every week until 11 August.

The contestants, who were chosen from more than 400 applicants, will be whittled down through a series of tasks staged at iconic football locations as the creators are challenged by some of the biggest names in the game.

Deeney said: "I'm absolutely buzzing to co-host Last Pundit Standing. There's something really special about the energy that surrounds an exciting new show like this.

"We're bringing together some amazing creators in incredible locations, with some huge special guests. I can't wait to dive in and have some fun over the series."

Watch the first two episodes of Last Pundit Standing here.

They have to qualify first Ben. Sweden are in a World Cup qualifying group with Kosovo, Slovenia and Switzerland but have not yet played a game. They failed to reach Euro 2024 after finishing third in their qualifying group - 10 points behind group winners Belgium and nine behind second-placed Austria.

Nottingham Forest are targeting PSV Eindhoven's £30m-rated Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko, 22, as a replacement for Anthony Elanga, should his proposed £55m move to Newcastle go through, according to reports in the Telegraph, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Well Tez, it certainly seems that transfer speculation is gathering pace away from Old Trafford.

We are going to return to the day's first big story now, which does at least have Manchester United links.

Newcastle United have agreed a £55m fee with Nottingham Forest for the sale of former United winger Anthony Elanga.

And reports suggest that Forest will be looking to quickly reinvest that money on a replacement...

Sunderland

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Sunderland target Chemsdine Talbi has Champions League experience with Club Brugge and scored two in his side's 3-1 away win against Atalanta last season.

The Black Cats have been busy in the transfer market as they prepare for their first season back in the Premier League since 2016-17.

Sunderland have already signed French midfielder Enzo le Fee, 25, on a four-year deal from Roma after a successful loan spell with the club, Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra, 21, in a reported club record £30m deal from Strasbourg and DR Congo midfielder Noah Sadiki, 20, from Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for a reported fee of £15m.

Sky Sports have also reported today that former Atletico Madrid left-back Reinildo Mandava has completed a medical in Madrid, and has agreed to join Sunderland on a two-year contract.

The 31-year-old Mozambique international is a free agent after his contract at Atletico Madrid expired last month.

The Black Cats' first match of the season is at home to West Ham on Saturday, 16 August (15:00 BST).