It’s no secret that Newcastle United would love to re-sign Elliot Anderson, but it’s looking unlikely.
Anderson was forced to leave his boyhood club in June 2024 after the Magpies reluctantly sold their academy graduate to Nottingham Forest in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The Whitley Bay-born midfielder joined Forest for £35million, though with Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading in the opposite direction for £20m, the actual fee was closer to £15m.
Vlachodimos has made just one appearance for Newcastle and is currently on loan at La Liga outfit Sevilla, while Anderson has gone to establish himself as an important player for not just Forest, but England too.
Ahead of this summer’s World Cup, Anderson is attracting strong interest from Man City and Man United, with the former widely reported to be leading the race. However, if Newcastle were at the table, then Waddle believes it’d be a different story.
Chris Waddle: Elliot Anderson would pick Newcastle United over Man City & Man Utd
“Elliot Anderson is a Newcastle fan,” Waddle told FruityKing. “He’s a Geordie. He probably couldn’t believe he got sold to Nottingham Forest in the first place but he’s enjoying his football, he’s in the England team, and it looks like he’ll be going to the World Cup.
“He'll not be in a rush but the chance of going back to Newcastle? I'm sure he's always wanted to play in those black and white stripes and I'm sure he'll be up for it. But I think, again, there'll be a lot of competition.
“I think he's on his game at the minute, let's be honest. He's playing well for Forest. He's consistent. Week in, week out he does a job, and so he's been in good form. You would think at his age, he'd only get better as he gets older. Most players do.
“There'll be a lot of teams eyeing him up so you'd have a lot to pick from if he does decide to leave Forest. Newcastle may just swing it because he’s a Newcastle fan.”
‘We’re dreaming’ - Elliot Anderson spotted back on Tyneside
Anderson spent Easter weekend back on Tyneside and on Friday night dined at Dabbawal. The Indian restaurant documented Anderson’s visit on their Facebook page and urged Newcastle to bring him home.
“Amazing to have the ‘Geordie Maradona’ himself, Elliot Anderson, in Dabbawal Jesmond last night,” they wrote. “We’re dreaming of a permanent return home… make it happen.”
While it’s no secret that Eddie Howe & co would love to bring Anderson back, his reported £90 to £100m price tag is set to price Newcastle out of a move.
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