In Focus: Man Utd reject Elanga can branch out at Forest

After struggling for playing time last season, Anthony Elanga has taken the plunge and left Manchester United.

He ends his seven-year association with United, the club where he broke through as a professional, to take Nottingham Forest up on their promise of Premier League first-team football.

We profile the Swedish winger and analyse where he will fit in at the City Ground.

Ten Hag's tough call

Selling Elanga permanently will not have been an easy decision for United, such is his versatility and potential.

Speaking last season, manager Erik ten Hag said: "He's doing well and he's a young guy.

"I'm happy to work with him. He has big potential. I think he can have a really good position in world football."

And upon selling him, the United club statement referred to a "fine role model" and an "example to other members of the academy".

While Jadon Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford provide Ten Hag with quality in wide areas, they could regret losing their homegrown winger if he flies in the East Midlands.

Prudent spending

Forest were always likely to rein in their spending this summer after their hectic transfer business in the last 12 months.

And the signing of Elanga is notable not just for being only their third of a low-key window but also for a relatively modest fee.

The Swede has set Forest back a reported £15million, a figure that 13 of the 19 other Premier League clubs have trumped in individual deals so far this summer.

Extracting that value from their recruits is a welcome change of tack for a club that overspent on a few of their marquee arrivals last term. 

Direct and positive

Elanga adds to the potent mix of direct forwards at Forest, who were so dangerous on the counter-attack last season.

The 21-year-old's speed is impressive and he uses it well to get himself into goalscoring situations.

He completed 3.05 take-ons per game across all competitions last term, creating 1.27 chances per match, while he also managed 2.29 shots per outing.

Upon signing for Forest, he said: "They [the fans] can expect someone who is direct, positive and someone who will get them goals. I want to light up the fans and get them off their feet."

Forest firepower

Elanga adds even more impetus to a side that scored 14 goals in their last seven games of last season.

Morgan Gibbs-White looks set for a call-up to the England senior squad after starring in the European Under-21 Championship victory, while Taiwo Awoniyi ended last term with six goals in four games.

Opposition full-backs, meanwhile, will not look forward to an afternoon spent trying to stop both Brennan Johnson and Steve Cooper's newest recruit.

Elanga completes a front line capable of ensuring that Premier League survival is more of a stress-free experience than it was last term.