Manchester United are considering bringing back a former player whose value has exploded – in a move that could be reminiscent of previous buybacks of former stars.
The story of Manchester United’s “return signings”
Manchester United set a record when they brought back Paul Pogba for £89 million in 2016, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s return in 2021 was a mixture of goalscoring and controversy. Jonny Evans’ second term, on the other hand, has been trouble-free – and now Anthony Elanga could be the next name on the list.
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According to Caught Offside, the 22-year-old Swedish winger, who Manchester United sold to Nottingham Forest for £15 million in 2023, is on the club’s radar.
More top clubs interested
Elanga’s explosive speed has plagued Premier League defenders this season (14 assists), and he is also attracting attention from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
A return to his childhood club Manchester United might seem tempting, but several obstacles must be overcome:
The challenges for United
- Price tag: Forest turned down a £50 million offer from Newcastle in 2024, and with the Champions League dream alive, they are unlikely to sell cheaply.
- Sporting project: Elanga is a key player for Forest’s ambitious plans under Evangelos Marinakis – and a contract extension until 2030 is being considered.
- European games: While Forest can secure the European Cup even if the CL escapes, United’s chances of winning the Europa League depend on winning the Europa League – with tough Athletic Bilbao and Tottenham or Bodo/Glim in the way.
Some info:
- Elanga has 5 goals + 9 assists in the 2023/24 Premier League
- United lost all 3 meetings with Tottenham this season
- Forest’s last European Cup appearance was in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup
Bodø/Glimt play an away game against Molde tonight and lead 0 – 2 at the time of writing, while Tottenham will soon welcome Nottingham Forest and Anthony Elanga.
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