The wheel doesn't stop turning because FIFA has decided to throw a spanner in the works and wring every last drop of effort out of players who were already on their last legs.
For those clubs invited to the tournament, full focus can't be placed on squad evolution over the summer and that is certainly an inconvenience.
Newcastle making moves in the transfer market
That's because in order to be ready for the new campaign, moves in the transfer market ideally need to be made and signings secured long before the 2025/26 pre-season is in full swing.
Fortunately for Newcastle, the CWC isn't a distraction that concerns them, and as such, Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall and the sporting management of the club have a reasonable amount of time within which to plot their various moves and secure their targets.
One of those is Nottingham Forest's electric right winger, Anthony Elanga, formerly of Manchester United of course.
Forest reject Magpies' £45m offer for Elanga
According to multiple reports, the Tricky Trees have turned down an offer of £45m from the Magpies, with their own valuation of the player being in the region of £60m.
Even so, Forest have apparently been unequivocal in their stance, which is that Elanga is not for sale.
Newcastle's interest is unlikely to come as a surprise to many given that in Jacob Murphy they have just the one experienced right winger in their first-team squad.
Miguel Almiron regularly filled that slot despite ostensibly being an attacking midfielder by trade, and since his return to Atlanta United, the north-east giants have looked light in terms of their right-wing options.
Similar output to Jacob Murphy
In terms of output, Elanga has managed a sufficient return of 13 goals and 25 assists in 127 games played since the start of the 2021/22 campaign. During the same period, Murphy scored 17 goals and also provided 25 assists in 143 matches.
Just two of Elanga's goals and three of his assists were whilst he was at Old Trafford, so it could be argued that there's more value in his recent on-pitch achievements by virtue of the fact that Forest weren't perhaps as free-flowing as Newcastle nor playing at quite the same level, with respect.
Murphy can also be rightfully proud of his contributions too, though it can't be ignored that the side he has played in over the past few seasons has been more expansive and attack-minded than Forest, save for the 2024/25 campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Aside from Elanga's physical attributes, he is also one of the quickest players in the Premier League, having been recorded at a top speed of 36.91 km/h (22.93 mph) and having run 85 metres in nine seconds.
Murphy has rarely been recognised for that area of his game, but he's actually the fourth fastest in the English top-flight with a top speed of 36.5 km/h (22.7 mph).
In terms of shooting accuracy, Elanga's impressive 64.9% is far, far better than his contemporary's 48.4%, but interestingly, it's Murphy with the better shot conversion rate (18.6% vs Elanga's 13.6%).
With Newcastle also becoming renowned for the way they control possession and get around the pitch, it's clear that any new signings need to be in tune with Howe's up-tempo passing style.
Like-for-like swap or replacement?
To that end, the 23-year-old could be a perfect fit as his pass completion stats peaked at 88.9% but have been consistently in the upper 70% range. Murphy has dipped from a high of 83.3% to the mid-70s and, against the top European teams, that's unlikely to be good enough.
What's harder to decipher at this stage with regard to Newcastle's move for the Swedish international is whether they're merely looking for strength in depth in the right-wing position or a like-for-like swap, not forgetting too that Elanga is six years younger than his potential new team-mate.
With Champions League football on the horizon again in 25/26, a stronger squad is a must of course, and you don't want to spend nearly £50m for players that will just warm the bench.
Equally, in Jacob Murphy, the Magpies have a decent club man that has never let them down and who isn't likely to take kindly to being potentially moved aside for what could be Newcastle's most important season in recent times.
Champions League attraction is obvious
The attraction of playing in the premier European tournament for Elanga is obvious and it may well be just that which convinces him to put the cat amongst the pigeons and demand a move to Forest's Premier League rivals.
Although there isn't a major improvement in terms of numbers to necessarily justify replacing a player that knows his role and the club inside out (Murphy) with one they hope will shine bright (Elanga), Newcastle will be mindful of that little bit extra that the Forest man can bring to the club and, to that end, shouldn't give up on him just yet.
