Nottingham Forest Opens Talks for £55m Elanga Replacement Bakayoko

Nottingham Forest is actively preparing for the upcoming season by seeking to strengthen their squad following the imminent departure of key winger Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United for a reported £55 million plus add-ons. The club has opened transfer talks with PSV Eindhoven for winger Johan Bakayoko, who is seen as a top target to fill the void left by Elanga, with PSV demanding a fee between £25 million and £30 million. Bakayoko, a versatile right-flank player with significant Eredivisie experience and international caps for Belgium, is also being pursued by Borussia Dortmund and other European clubs, making the transfer race competitive. Meanwhile, Forest is also negotiating with Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has one year left on his contract and has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs, emphasizing the club's focus on maintaining a strong attacking lineup. The addition of Bakayoko and retention or acquisition of players like Hudson-Odoi are crucial as Forest prepare for their first European campaign in over a century, specifically the Europa Conference League. The club’s strategy highlights a proactive approach to talent recruitment to continue challenging Premier League elites under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.