Yahoo News Newcastle fury and Gary Neville comment about Elliot Anderson should excite Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are set to benefit from Newcastle United’s need to sell players by picking up Elliot Anderson.
The fee for Anderson is believed to be in the region of £35 million, which seems a tad pricey for a player who has only made 13 Premier League starts, but the midfielder is highly-rated in the north east.
Anderson has broken into United’s first team set-up under Eddie Howe in the past two seasons to make 44 Premier League appearances. It was following a successful loan spell in League One with Bristol Rovers, where Anderson scored seven goals and assisted a further six, that people started to take notice.
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Respected pundit Gary Neville recently commented: “I watched him quite a bit when he was at Bristol Rovers – he was some player there.”
Howe has used Anderson in a variety of positions and trusted him in Champions League games against AC Milan in the San Siro and Paris Saint-Germain at St James’ Park. Speaking in May, Howe said: "Elliot has come through the academy here. When I first came to the club, we were aware of him and his talents. He’s really worked on all aspects of the game, and I think he’s been really reliable for us.
“Whatever position I have used in him, he has done very well. Tactically I have asked him to do a couple of things that the team has needed, and he’s done it very well. I am really pleased with his level of maturity and his tactical understanding."
However, due to their big spending in recent seasons, Newcastle are effectively holding a fire-sale to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Numerous Premier League clubs are selling assets today before the football financial year shifts to 2024/25. In addition to Anderson, Newcastle are selling Yankuba Minteh to Brighton for £33m and Callum Wilson is in talks over a move to Saudi Arabia.
Unsurprisingly, the Newcastle faithful aren’t happy that they are having to part ways with one of their own. Magpie Media posted on X: “Elliot Anderson is Newcastle United through and through. Even at just 21 years old, he’s spent 14 years of his life associated with our football club, making 55 first team appearances along the way. He’s a young player with lots of talent and a bundle of potential.
“Despite this, the ‘Geordie Maradona’ is now being sacrificed to ensure we comply with some of the most anti-competitive rules this sport has and will ever see. If we’re being honest, it absolutely stinks.”
