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Sky Sports reveals why Newcastle's dramatic Deadline Day offer for Anthony Elanga was rejected by Nottingham Forest, plus why they backed away from a late move for forward Omar Marmoush; Rob Dorsett also looks at why Forest signed James Ward-Prowse and Morato. ..
Senior Reporter, Sky Sports News
@Rob Dorsett Sky
Saturday 31 August 2024 20: 16, UK Nottingham Forest turned down an offer worth a potential £50m from Newcastle for winger Anthony Elanga on transfer Deadline Day, Sky Sports can reveal. And that surprising, but emphatic, decision epitomises the ambitious strategy of the Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis. With seven hours of the window remaining, Sky Sports News reported that Forest had rebuffed a £35m offer for the Swedish forward. What was unknown until now is that Newcastle - desperate to strengthen and with £65m in their coffers after failing to land Marc Guehi - came back in with another, hugely increased bid. The fact that Forest's patriarch was prepared to walk away from such a deal for a player who they only bought last summer, and who only cost the club one third of Newcastle's offer, is quite a statement. In the process, Marinakis turned down one of the new super-rich clubs in English football - one he wants to be competing with on an equal footing in the future. It's a decision that will surprise many. Indeed, many Forest fans might wonder whether Elanga is worth that kind of money and whether, after last season's points deduction for breaching PSR rules, it was prudent for Forest to look the Geordie gift horse in the mouth.
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But it was Marinakis' call, and his alone. He made the decision for a variety of important reasons. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Firstly, Elanga has done a great job for Forest. Five goals and nine assists last season - when they were battling relegation for much of the campaign - is testimony to that. Secondly, the deal would have happened so late in the window, it would have been almost impossible for Forest to replace him. Thirdly - and equally as important as the previous two reasons - Marinakis knew just how important Elanga has become to the squad ethos and unity. That is something Nuno Espirito Santo believes is very important. A squad that is tight - both metaphorically and numerically - one that has a strong bond and a positive atmosphere. Elanga is at the very heart of that squad unity, and so Marinakis' resolve was to refuse any temptation to sell him now in order to maintain that wider positivity. Nuno has literally changed the furniture at Forest's training ground, expanding some of the social spaces to encourage the players to spend more time with each other off the pitch. For him and for his Greek boss, the Elanga-sized hole that would have been left in the squad had he been sold was worth much more than £50m. When it comes to incomings, Forest fans may be bemoaning the failure to bring a new striker to the City Ground. But Sky Sports has been told Nuno didn't feel he needed another striker and told Marinakis as much. That is why Forest stepped away from a deal worth more than £25m for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, with only hours of the window remaining. Those players that did come in were carefully selected and pursued. James Ward-Prowse's character, experience and downright ability meant his loan move from West Ham was a no-brainer for Ross Wilson, Forest's sporting director, and ultimately for Marinakis. The feeling was that, whilst his brilliant set pieces would only add to Forest's options on the pitch, his popularity and engaging personality off it could equally only enhance the group. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Marinakis felt similarly about the Brazilian centre-back Morato, bought for £15m from Benfica. Wilson said in his welcome statement that the club had been pursuing him "for several windows". That keenness was based on him having the right footballing attributes, of course, but also on him having the right attitude and character to enhance the group. The fact that Morato is Portuguese-speaking - like so many of the Forest players and, of course, the manager - was no accident. Nor was the fact that Forest already have another brilliant Brazilian defender in Murillo. The expectation is that the pair will form a strong bond, both on and off the pitch, which will bring out their mutual best. Forest's Greek owner has been criticised at various times over the last two seasons for what some felt was a "scatter-gun" approach to transfers. The sheer numbers of new recruits in the first few transfer windows following Forest's promotion seemingly gave ammunition to those critics. But the truth is that each transfer was carefully calculated and decided, even those that were done in the latter hours of the window. That is when Marinakis feels there is often best value for money - and yes, his ruthless business instincts love the poker game that is deal-making at the final hour. But he has definitely played some blinding hands. Look at £13. 7m for the previously-mentioned Murillo, or Callum Hudson-Odoi, who cost less than £5m. Not every transfer can be a success, of course. And on Deadline Day this time, Forest managed to get Matt Turner, Josh Bowler and Alex Mighten off the wage bill. They moved on a staggering 30 players in total during the summer window. With all the ins and outs, Marinakis and Nuno are both delighted with the business that was done. Neither is expecting a relegation battle this season. In fact, having brought European success to his other footballing love, Olympiakos, Marinakis is now targeting similar glory for Forest in the coming years. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player In Elliot Anderson - Newcastle, £35m James Ward-Prowse - West Ham, loan Morato - Benfica, £15m Eric da Silva Moreiro - St Pauli, £1. 3m Nikola Milenkovic - Fiorentina, £12m Carlos Miguel - Corinthians, undisclosed Marko Stamenic - Red Star Belgrade, undisclosed Shea Cahill - Brisbane Roar, free Jota Silva - Vitoria Guimaraes, £10. 1m Ramon Sosa - Talleres de Cordoba, undisclosed Alex Moreno - Aston Villa, loan David Carmo - Porto, undisclosed Out Alex Mighten - San Diego, undisclosed Matt Turner - Crystal Palace, loan Remo Freuler - Bologna, £3. 4m Jamie Mc Donnell - Colchester, loan Orel Mangala - Lyon, £20m Moussa Niakhate - Lyon, £27m Brandon Aguilera - Rio Ave, undisclosed Julian Larsson - Burton, undisclosed Odysseas Vlachodimos - Newcastle, undisclosed Henry Lister - Hearts, free Kevin Adueni - Released Harry Arter - Released Felipe - Released Tony Gbopo - Released Wayne Hennessey - Released Ethan Hull - Released Ateef Konate - Released Cheikhou Kouyate - Released Loic Mbe Soh - Released Scott Mc Kenna - Released Elijah Morgan - Released Theo Robinson - Released Esapa Osong - Rotherham, loan Jonathan Panzo - Rio Ave, loan Marko Stamenic - Olympiakos, loan Lewis O'Brien - Los Angeles FC, loan Omar Richards - Rio Ave, loan Joe Worrall - Burnley, undisclosed David Carmo - Olympiakos, loan Josh Bowler - Preston, loan One goal away in the opening two rounds, could you go one better and win £1, 000, 000 for free with Super 6?
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