Anthony Elanga is set to join Nottingham Forest this summer.
BBC Sport have claimed that the winger is close to joining the City Ground from Manchester United after recently turning down Everton.
Elanga won the 2019-20 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year with Manchester United’s U-21s before he found his way into the first team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however he has falling down the pecking order since Erik ten Hag’s arrival and is now seeking regular football elsewhere.
Everton were reportedly in talks to sign the 21-year-old after the Red Devils previously turned down their loan move for him in the January transfer window, however Elanga chose to reject the Toffees as he was concerned he wouldn’t suit Sean Dyche’s tactics.
With Elanga’s next club said to have already been decided earlier this week, it has now been revealed that Nottingham will be his home next season.
The report claims Elanga is currently in the United States ahead of their pre-season clash with Arsenal tonight, however he is set to return to England for his medical this weekend.
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The Sweden international will link up with Steve Cooper in a £15 million deal, while Everton will complete their second signing of the summer in Arnaut Danjuma in the coming days.
Was a move to Nottingham Forest more desirable for Anthony Elanga?
While turning down Everton due to his suitability to Sean Dyche’s style of play is understandable, a move to the City Ground still comes as a bit of a shock.
It was expected that Elanga could move abroad after rejecting the chance to move to Merseyside, however he has instead joined their Premier League rivals.
Forest finished four points above the relegation zone last season after signing a mammoth 29 players last summer. However, the Swede will become their first this time round as they look to take a different approach.
It will be interesting to see if Elanga can help improve on a difficult season for Cooper’s side, while Everton will be hopeful he doesn’t punish them if they both face another relegation battle.
The youngster certainly won’t be guaranteed regular game time quite like he would have under Dyche, with Forest home to the likes of Brennan Johnson, Emmanuel Dennis and Morgan Gibbs White.