Newcastle manager Eddie Howe may not get the contract he wants in 2026. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Newcastle have begun considering transfer business for 2026 and are expected to work on midfield options. Sandro Tonali has been rumored to return to Italy in recent weeks, and if he were to leave, Geordie boy Elliott Anderson would be the perfect replacement.
Anderson left Newcastle in the summer of 2024, joining Nottingham Forest in a PSR-influenced deal. The 22-year-old has improved significantly since his move to the City Ground and is now a regular in the England squad, which could complicate his chances of returning to St James’ Park.
Nottingham Forest are not thinking about Elliott Anderson’s departure
According to Football Insider, manager Pete O’Rourke has revealed that Nottingham Forest have no immediate plans to sell Anderson as they see him as a player who can help them climb the Premier League table in the coming months.
“The problem for clubs interested in Elliott Anderson at the moment is probably that his price has increased significantly and his reputation has really increased since he arrived in England.
“Nottingham Forest won’t want to think about losing Elliott Anderson. They’ll want to keep him because they’ll need him if they’re in a relegation battle this year. They’re going to need the best player to move up the Premier League table and that’s definitely Anderson.”
Anderson would no doubt be tempted to return to Newcastle given it is his boyhood club, but he could equally be keen on a move to the likes of Man United, who are also said to be interested in signing Anderson in 2026. It is unlikely that either club will be able to sign him for less than £70m, in which case the Magpies could be put at a disadvantage due to his well-documented PSR issues.