Contact made: Newcastle United step up efforts to sign £60m Anthony Elanga alternative

Newcastle United have reportedly decided to step up their efforts to sign Brighton forward Joao Pedro this summer after seeing a bid for Anthony Elanga rejected by Nottingham Forest.

It’s proven a slightly frustrating summer for Newcastle so far, with Eddie Howe supposedly not entirely happy at the lack of new additions to his attack.

That’s according to a report from Give Me Sport, who state that the Magpies are now in talks to sign the £60m-rated Pedro after failing to get anywhere with Elanga.

It remains to be seen how realistic a deal for Pedro is as well, with the report noting that his £60m valuation is similar to what Forest wanted for Elanga.

Newcastle chasing Joao Pedro after Anthony Elanga frustration

Newcastle fans would surely be pretty happy with the signing of Pedro as an alternative to Elanga, but how do the two players compare?

Despite both being top targets for Newcastle’s attack, it would probably be fair to say that we’re not exactly comparing like-for-like here.

The stats below (from the 2024/25 Premier League season) don’t necessarily tell the whole story, but Pedro is more of a striker, while Elanga is a more natural winger…

Elanga mostly played on the right flank for Forest last season, whereas Pedro operated mostly as a centre-forward, even if he has also occasionally filled in out wide.

It will be interesting to see what kind of role Howe has in mind for Pedro if he does bring him in, but it’s hard to see him getting many starting opportunities as a central striker when Alexander Isak is already at St James’ Park.

Elanga might have made more sense to give Newcastle more options out wide to supply good quality crosses and passes for Isak, but perhaps Howe feels Pedro could also be moulded into that kind of player.

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