Newcastle United are finally making headway in the summer transfer window, with their long-game efforts to sign Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga finally coming to fruition.

The Tricky Trees don't want to sell the right-sided forward, whose pacy and creative style of play has proved so instrumental in qualifying for European football against the odds, but then Newcastle have tabled a series of offers and are getting close to sealing the deal.

Though Eddie Howe will have been delighted with his side's Premier League campaign last term, winning the Carabao Cup besides, there's no question that improvements are needed. Newcastle have been trying to add some depth, but have been foiled in recent weeks.

Newcastle pushing to complete deals

Newcastle have been buffeted by setbacks in recent weeks, failing to convince Chelsea-signed Joao Pedro to join them after missing out on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

The latter has signed for Manchester United, while Brentford's talisman has expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer.

However, that could all change with Elanga. Although saying that, PIF won't want more misery, and according to Sky Sports, are exploring a move for PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko as a contingency.

Bakayoko, 22, was wanted by Liverpool in a £43m deal last summer, and bears the thrilling approach which could see Howe hit the jackpot with a right-sided signing.

Why Newcastle want Johan Bakayoko

Though Elanga has established himself as one of the most exciting young wingers in the Premier League, he's only scored 11 times across 82 matches for Nottingham Forest, assisting 21 further goals.

In Bakayoko, Newcastle could sign themselves a player of greater sharpness in the final third, one who could yet reach a much higher level.

The Belgium international has made 131 appearances for PSV since graduating from the club's youth academy, scoring 33 goals and supplying 22 assists for his teammates.

His recent Eredivisie campaign left something to be desired, but he has still demonstrated over the past couple of years an aptitude that puts him up there with the world's most exciting prospects.

Bakayoko's development might have been stunted somewhat over the past year, but there's no doubt that he's one of the most exciting young wingers around, with a prolific potential which could see him eclipse Elanga, who is a talented player in his own right.

One theme across both Bakayoko's league terms has been his keen-edged striking skills, with journalist Antonio Mango singling out his "clinical" qualities.

Partner this with his athleticism and playmaking and you've got yourself a winger who could become one of the finest in the business, worldwide.

Praised for an "insane" amount of talent by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bakayoko might be an unpolished gem but he is still a diamond of a prospect, one who could prove to be an upgrade on Elanga in the long run.

After all, he ranked among the top 6% of positional peers in the Netherlands' top flight last year for goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

With Jacob Murphy playing so industriously for Howe, this might be the perfect move to make, adding depth and competition with a player who could skyrocket over the coming years.