Former Newcastle United midfielder Elliot Anderson was back in his home city over the Easter weekend.
It’s been almost two years since the Magpies reluctantly sold their academy graduate to Nottingham Forest to help comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Anderson joined Forest for £35million though with Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading to St James’ Park in the opposite direction for £20m, the sale was technically closer to £15m.
And from then onwards, Anderson has gone on to establish himself as an important player for club and country, with the 23-year-old pushing to start for England at this summer’s World Cup.
The midfielder is already at the centre of big-money transfer talk, with Manchester City said to be leading the race, while Manchester United are keeping close tabs on the situation.
It’s no secret that Newcastle and Eddie Howe would love to bring Anderson home, and a visit to the city over the Easter weekend has really brought home that feeling.
On Friday evening, Anderson was pictured dining at Dabbawal. The Indian restaurant shared a photo of the player on their Facebook page with the caption: “Amazing to have the ‘Geordie Maradona’ himself, Elliot Anderson, in Dabbawal Jesmond last night.
“We’re dreaming of a permanent return home… make it happen.”
That’s the dream, now here comes the reality (sorry!). Suggestions that Forest will demand upwards of £90m for Anderson will almost certainly price the Magpies out of a move, even with a big sale themselves.
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