Ex-Man United man admits he spoke to Alexander Isak before failed Newcastle move

Anthony Elanga says that he spoke to Sweden teammate Alexander Isak about the prospect of joining Newcastle over the summer.

Nottingham Forest’s Elanga was heavily-linked with a switch to the north east as the summer transfer window drew to a close.

At the time, talkSPORT revealed that the deal likely would have seen Elliot Anderson move in the opposite direction, with both clubs trying to manoeuvre their way around the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Elanga has now acknowledged that he was aware of those reports, but his focus was elsewhere.

“I have heard the same as you have,” he told fotbollskanalen while on international duty. 

“There will always be rumours in football, but I have a contract with Nottingham and we had a game the day before so I couldn’t focus so much on it [the rumours].”

When asked if it was more than a rumour, he replied: “I have no idea, I saw the same as you.”

Elanga was then asked about conversations with Isak and revealed: “Isak talked to me about it. But I said the same to him as I say to you.

“We have a good relationship and good chemistry when we play together. But I have a contract with Nottingham.”

Continuing his commitment to Forest Elanga made similar noises when asked about a future move.

“I’m focusing on Nottingham and hope to have a good season, then we’ll see what happens,” he added.

“The environment in Nottingham is good. It is clear that you can see that Newcastle are interested, it means that I am playing good football when a big club shows interest. 

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“But Nottingham is also a big club, they have won two Champions Leagues, even though it was before I was born. But I’m happy in Nottingham and have a contract there.”

Elanga joined Forest in the summer of 2023 for £15million, leaving a Manchester United side who gave him his professional debut as an academy graduate.

The 22-year-old impressed in his first season at the City Ground, recording five goals and nine assists as their third most productive player, helping the team avoid relegation.