On the back of his impressive performances for Nottingham Forest, multiple top clubs in England are now after his signature. Former club Newcastle are keen on bringing him back, but according to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Manchester City are ahead of the Magpies in the race to sign the English international.
Anderson came up the ranks at the Tyneside club and got promoted to their first team in the summer of 2022. While he was an integral part of their long-term plans, the Magpies were forced to part ways with him because of financial issues.
Nottingham ended up making the most out of it. Since joining the Tricky Trees in 2024, the 23-year-old has been involved in a total of 74 matches and has even contributed towards 11 goals. While he prefers playing as a central midfielder, he is equally effective in any role in midfield.
While speaking about Anderson’s future, O’Rourke said, “It’s fair enough to say that Newcastle are down the pecking order in that race to sign Elliot Anderson.
“Eddie Howe’s openly admitted he would love the opportunity to bring him back to the club, he didn’t really want to sell him when they sold him to Nottingham Forest in 2024.
“Anderson has really kicked on since that move. He has really impressed for Forest, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most accomplished central midfielders.
“He’s going to be in huge demand this summer, there’s no doubt about that. Manchester City are regarded as the favourites for his signature if he does end up leaving Forest.
“I don’t think Newcastle, especially if they’ve got no Champions League football to offer next season, will be in any position to offer (£100million) due to PSR, FFP, so it looks like one that’s probably going to be beyond them in the summer transfer window.”
His consistent performances, great technical abilities, and massive potential have resulted in a lot of interest from rival clubs. While his contract runs until the summer of 2029, he could be on the move in the near future, amidst interest from Newcastle as well as Manchester City.
The Magpies seek more quality in midfield. They want to further bolster that position and are keen on reuniting Anderson with Eddie Howe. However, their chances of signing the 23-year-old are decreasing at a rapid pace.
Manchester City have overtaken them in the race for his signature. Pep Guardiola is a massive admirer of the youngster and is keen on having him on his squad. City have the financial might to strike a deal with Nottingham, who are set to demand around £100 million next summer.
The Magpies might struggle to fork out that big a fee to bring him back to St. James’ Park. If they fail to qualify for the Champions League, they won’t be able to spend that much because of the financial restrictions.
