14 June 2023 , 14:40
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Emil Forsberg has been attempting to convince his Sweden colleague Anthony Elanga to join him at RB Leipzig.
Elanga has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester United, with Alejandro Garnacho jumping the queue. The 21-year-old played less than 500 minutes in the Premier League last season and hasn't scored for United since February 2022.
The winger is away with his national side for their upcoming games against New Zealand and Austria, with a summer move potentially on the cards. If experienced midfielder Forsberg gets his way, that move will see Elanga trade the Premier League for the Bundesliga, with a chance of Champions League football to boot.
"I will sit down with the president, with Oliver [Mintzlaff], here soon and see what we should do," Forsberg told Fotboll Skanalen. While admitting he had held conversations with his compatriot, the 31-year-old remained coy on the details.
"I have spoken to Anthony. But it stays between us," Forsberg continued. "I know Anthony quite well, so it's quite normal if it were to come up.
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"But he is a young and talented player who fits in with us. We have been good at developing young and talented players."
Would RB Leipzig be a good fit for Anthony Elanga? Have your say in the comments section
Anthony Elanga struggled for minutes at Man United last season (Getty Images)Leipzig's record with young players is a notable one, with the likes of Dani Olmo and Josko Gvardiol developing after joining the club at a young age. They already have a deal in place to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer, after the Slovenian striker was linked with United.
United are expected to allow Elanga to leave for a knock-down fee, with a price of £10m quoted. He is one of several senior players tipped for a summer exit, with his Sweden team-mate Victor Lindelof also having attracted interest since the turn of the year.
After scoring in a Champions League game against Atletico Madrid under Ralf Rangnick, Elanga went more than a year without a senior goal. Just seven of his 26 appearances last season were starts - only five of those in the Premier League - and he played less than an hour of Europa League knockout football as the Red Devils fell to Sevilla in the quarter-finals.
Ten Hag's squad will begin their pre-season campaign on July 12 with a match against Leeds. They are also due to take on Arsenal and Wrexham, among other opponents, before the 2023-24 campaign gets underway.
By the time the new season rolls around, United are expected to have added more attacking talent to their ranks. A new number nine is the main priority for the Dutch manager, with Harry Kane among the big names linked.