Sources: Newcastle turn attention to signing contract rebel after Anthony Elanga decision
Johan Bakayoko remains an option for Newcastle United if their latest attempt to sign Anthony Elanga breaks down, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have told him about Newcastle's efforts to sign a new right winger.
Jacob Murphy was in career-best form for Newcastle last season, but Eddie Howe still wants to upgrade in this area next season and has both Elanga and PSV's Bakayoko near the top of his transfer shortlist.
Newcastle have submitted a new £55million offer for Elanga after Nottingham Forest rejected a previous bid of £45m for the Swedish international, having set a £60m price tag for their in-demand wideman.
Forest are yet to officially respond to Newcastle's latest bid, but Football Insider sources have said that the Magpies remain keen on the cheaper alternative of Bakayoko after their initial interest in the January transfer window.
Newcastle seek Elanga 'alternative' after Bakayoko update
Bakayoko has now entered the last 12 months of his PSV contract, and Football Insider revealed on 4 July that Bakayoko would favour a move to St. James' Park this summer and Howe is a big fan of his.
Former Man United and Blackburn scout Mick Brown told Football Insider the day prior that Forest are unlikely to budge on their £60m asking price for Elanga, but Newcastle's latest bid could test the waters.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that if Forest do hold fast on their hefty valuation, Bakayoko represents a more feasible alternative signing for Newcastle given their long-term interest.
"They showed a bit of interest in Bakayoko last summer and also in the January window as well – he's somebody that the club have been keeping tabs on", he told Football Insider.
"For Newcastle, maybe the time is right, maybe to strike a move for him because he is going into the final year of his contract at PSV.
"He could be a cheaper alternative to some of the other players they've been looking at, like Anthony Elanga, who they've obviously had a big £45million bid rejected for by Nottingham Forest.
"I'm sure Bakayoko would probably be interested in a move away if it was the right offer."
Elanga deal to re-ignite Newcastle's transfer fortunes
Although Bakayoko could well end up on Tyneside this summer, Newcastle had planned for Elanga to make up one third of a £175m transfer outlay also including James Trafford and Brighton's Joao Pedro.
That plan has already come unstuck after Pedro rejected Newcastle in order to join Chelsea for £60m, and the Magpies will be desperate to get their deal for Elanga over the line sooner rather than later.
Newcastle have so far had no luck whatsoever in their pursuit of a new right winger going back several transfer windows, but either Elanga or Bakayoko arriving this summer would be a marked improvement.