The ones that got away at Newcastle United
Newcastle United reluctantly sold Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to stave off the threat of a Premier League points deduction.
One thing was obvious to the regulars at Whitley Park.
What was obvious back in 2020, when Steve Bruce was head coach, was that Newcastle United had a special talent coming up through the ranks.
And it seemed only a matter of time before that talent forced his way into the first-team squad.
Elliot Anderson looked to have everything in those Under-23 games, which were played in front of a few hundred fans.
A teenager at the time, Anderson had exceptional technique, vision and movement. He was also a fierce competitor capable of playing in a number of positions.
Bruce went on to hand Anderson his debut, and the midfielder proved invaluable to Eddie Howe, his successor, when his squad was ravaged by injuries last season.
Anderson, an intelligent footballer, was a key squad player given his versatility, and Howe said he had been a “huge miss” during a four-month spell out after suffering a stress fracture in his back late last year.
“He’s been a huge miss for us because of his versatility,” said Howe in March. “You could see that to have his ability to play wide, play central, be creative and a goalscorer, we’ve missed that.”
The best was arguably yet to come from Anderson, labelled the “Geordie Maradona” by Bristol Rovers fans during a successful spell at the club.
But Whitley Bay-born Anderson is now a Nottingham Forest player.
“It’s been a dream come true to represent my club for 14 years,” said Anderson on X. “Pulling that black and white shirt on at St James park is a moment that will never be taken away from me.
“I would like to thank everyone involved with the club and all the geordies that have supported me throughout my journey. I will always support the club and wish nothing but the best for everyone involved.
“As one door closes another one opens. Thank you.”
Having helped the team on the pitch, the 21-year-old has helped the club, which was facing a future points deduction under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), off the field.
With the more profitable Mike Ashley years having dropped off the three-year PSR cycle, the club, which hadn’t brought in much money in sales since the 2021 takeover, were in a bind after some big-spending windows.
And Anderson’s £35million move to the City Ground, unquestionably, is an exceptional piece of business in PSR terms.
It’s pure profit to the club, as Anderson was a product of the club’s youth system.
Deadline day deals
Newcastle had needed to bring in around £50million before yesterday’s accounting deadline, according to The Athletic, and the sale of Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton and Hove Albion should ensure that the club is compliant with the rules, which are in urgent need of reform.
The sale of Minteh, loaned to Feyenoord last season, raised a reported £33million, while sporting director Dan Ashworth – who had been on gardening leave since February – has also joined Manchester United after a compensation package was agreed.
Newcastle were always going to have to trade to comply with PSR regulations, but losing a homegrown player like Anderson, and a highly-rated prospect like Minteh, is hard to take given their potential.
It’s now clear why the club, which will bank significantly more from its kit deal this season after swapping Castore for adidas as their supplier, was unable to strengthen its squad in January’s transfer window amid an extraordinary injury crisis.
The challenge for Newcastle is to replace Anderson – and ensure that this situation doesn’t happen again.