Anthony Elanga’s proposed £55m move to Newcastle delayed by agent switch?

Recent reports suggested that Newcastle United were on the verge of finalizing a £55 million deal for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, with negotiations said to be in the advanced stages late last week. However, since that flurry of optimism, there has been a noticeable lull, followed by a vague update over the weekend from journalist Luke Edwards, who described the situation as making “slow progress”—but clarified that neither Newcastle nor Forest were to blame for the delay.

This somewhat cryptic development left many supporters scratching their heads and wondering what might be holding up a deal that seemed nearly complete just days ago. As it turns out, there may be a logical—though undeniably frustrating—reason for the current standstill.

The 23-year-old Swedish international is currently in the midst of switching agents, a move that has introduced new complexity into an already intricate negotiation process. Elanga has parted ways with his former representatives at CAA Stellar, a major sports agency with strong ties to Newcastle, and is now transitioning to Panthera Sports. While such a change is not unusual in modern football, its timing—right in the thick of negotiations—has inevitably introduced delays.

Previously, Elanga was represented by David Lockwood of CAA, the same agency that manages several figures with links to Newcastle, including goalkeeper Nick Pope, transfer target James Trafford, and Will Osula, a close friend of Elanga’s. His new agent, Michael-Moses Jarman of Panthera Sports, now assumes control of Elanga’s future and is expected to take a comprehensive look at the terms being discussed. Panthera’s current roster includes notable names such as Arnaut Danjuma and Ilias Chair, but Elanga is now arguably their highest-profile client.

While an agent change at this stage does not signal that the deal is falling through, it often leads to a pause in momentum. The new representatives will want to thoroughly evaluate all aspects of the move—from salary expectations and contract length to performance bonuses and image rights. This, in turn, stretches the timeline for completion and requires both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest to exercise patience.

Adding to the complexity is the high-stakes nature of the deal itself. A fee of £55 million is a significant investment for Newcastle, and both clubs are carefully negotiating payment structure, personal terms, and potential add-ons. Manchester United’s sell-on clause from Elanga’s 2023 transfer to Forest is also a factor, further complicating financial discussions behind the scenes.

Elanga is reportedly eager to make the move to St James’ Park, attracted by the opportunity to play in the Champions League, work under Eddie Howe, and link up with fellow Swede Alexander Isak in a vibrant attacking setup. From a sporting perspective, the transfer makes perfect sense for the player, who is seen as a key part of Newcastle’s long-term project. However, any new agent will naturally want to secure the best possible terms for their client and themselves, which can temporarily stall progress even when all parties are in general agreement.

Another contributing factor to the delay could be Nottingham Forest’s efforts to secure a replacement before officially parting ways with their winger. Though a broad agreement with Newcastle may already be in place, Forest are understandably reluctant to finalize Elanga’s departure until they have made strides toward bringing in a new attacking option. They will also be mindful of not appearing too eager in negotiations with selling clubs, especially when armed with the knowledge that £55 million could soon land in their bank account.

In short, while the path to Elanga’s move to Newcastle appeared clear last week, recent developments behind the scenes have introduced new layers of negotiation that must be carefully navigated. An agreement still looks highly likely, but supporters may need to temper expectations of a quick announcement.

After a quiet start to the summer window and a June marked by stalled moves and transfer frustration, this delay may feel like another blow. However, the pieces are still in place for Elanga to become a Magpies player—it just might take a little longer for the final pieces to fall into place.