After weeks of speculation, it looks like Eddie Howe might finally be getting his first major signing in two years.

Thursday’s news of positive talks with Nottingham Forest over the transfer of Anthony Elanga has got many fans’ approval, as we seem to finally be flexing some financial muscles in the transfer market.

Strong claims have arrived both last night and this afternoon on where the deals stands, but the BBC has now given us a better insight into negotiations and the current state of play, painting a promising picture heading into the weekend…

BBC Sport issue Elanga update

According to BBC Sport, talks are continuing between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest over the proposed £55m transfer of Anthony Elanga, with signs of progress evident from all sides of the deal.

BBC sources claim that despite there still being no final agreement just yet, talks are moving in positive direction and both clubs are ‘open’ to the transfer, which feels very encouraging regarding our hopes of striking a deal.

Not only that, the following line from BBC Sport also feels telling: ‘While Forest have indicated £55m is the fee they are seeking for Elanga, Newcastle have declined to comment on that valuation.’

If Forest are seeking £55m as the BBC report, and Newcastle’s latest offer is worth that figure, as Fabrizio Romano and Craig Hope have stated, it strengthens the belief that the finer details are now being discussed, such as the structure of payments and potential clauses, not the price itself.

Something to start getting excited about!?

Though the Elanga story has been covered by Fabrizio Romano, David Ornstein and our own local press over the last 24 hours, the fact the BBC has now picked up on the news and issued a positive update suggests it’s heading in the right direction, if not almost done.

And although we may not have come to a final agreement just yet, it’s starting to feel like a matter of time until we hear widespread confirmation that it’s all agreed ahead of a medical, with personal terms not thought to be a problem.

We’ll be heading up to Glasgow in just over two weeks time for our first friendly of the pre-season campaign, so one would expect that Howe will want the bulk of our business done and squad assembled in time for that game against Celtic.