Newcastle United sanctioned the departure of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest because of financial problems.
The talented young midfielder has established himself as a player for Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has now admitted that he would like to bring the player back to the club in future.
It will be interesting to see if Nottingham Forest are prepared to sell in the future. He is an indispensable asset for them, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. Newcastle could certainly use someone like him, and that remains to be seen how the situation develops.
Howe said to The Telegraph: “I don’t know [if he will come back] but certainly from my perspective I would love him to.
“I’m very respectful of the fact he is at another football club and I would never normally talk about a player in that way, so, I won’t change that stance but… yeah… it is very regretful. A player from the academy who had given so much, and the club had given so much to, all those years here and how people tried to develop those talents, for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.
“It [his sale] didn’t sit right with me then, doesn’t sit right with me today that we, as a football club, were forced to make a decision that we didn’t want to make. And a player that had given everything to rise through the ranks here to try to play for Newcastle, that was ended by financial restrictions.
“I do think it is slightly sad that academy products are now seen as a vehicle to sell and generate profit. That side of it, for me, just doesn’t go in tune with the development of players which, ultimately, is crucial at the younger age.”
Newcastle have an exciting project and a talented squad. However, they need more quality if they want to fight for major trophies. They will look to compete with elite clubs regularly. Someone like Anderson will add creativity and control in the middle of the park. He has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League, and he is on the radar of multiple clubs.
Even if Nottingham Forest agrees to sell him, he is likely to cost a substantial amount of money. It will be interesting to see if Newcastle are prepared to break the Bank for him. Signing someone like him could sort out their midfield for the foreseeable future. They have quality midfielders at their disposal, and the arrival of Anderson only improves them further.
It will be interesting to see if the talented young midfielder is open to returning to his boyhood club in future. He might feel that he has unfinished business at Newcastle. They have an ambitious project, and they are competing in the UEFA Champions League. They could be an attractive destination for him.
