It is rare to hear a manager speak so openly about club politics, yet Howe balanced honesty with respect, insisting “I’m very respectful of the fact he is at another football club”. Yet beneath that diplomacy lies a deep frustration at losing a homegrown talent developed over years only to see him flourish elsewhere.
Anderson’s Rise in the Midlands
At Forest, Anderson has evolved into what Howe now calls “one of the country’s finest midfielders”. Operating in a deeper role but capable of thriving “as an 8 or a 10” or even “wide left”, his versatility makes him a dream for modern coaches. Howe’s praise went further, calling such players “very precious”, a hint that Newcastle’s project still values academy identity amid its Saudi-backed expansion.
Future Reunion on Tyneside?
Asked whether a return was realistic, Howe replied, “I don’t know… but certainly from my perspective I would love him to.” That sounds less like a passing compliment and more like an invitation. With Forest now benefitting from the £20m offset via Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the deal, Newcastle may look back on this transfer as one of their most costly in recent memory, not just financially but emotionally.
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As a Newcastle fan, this one hurts. Elliot Anderson was meant to be our midfielder for the next decade, the Geordie heartbeat in a team slowly being reshaped by big-money signings. Watching him boss games for Forest feels like a self-inflicted wound. Yes, the PSR rules tied our hands, but it feels like the club sacrificed long-term identity for short-term safety.
Hearing Howe openly admit the sale “does not sit right” pretty much confirms what most fans felt at the time. It never made sense to let him go unless it was absolute desperation. The fact he is now starting for England tells its own story.
Would I take him back? In a heartbeat. Bring him home, pay whatever it takes, and let him be part of the next chapter.
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