Fresh pain as Newcastle United told ‘sky is the limit’ for player they sold for £35m

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Newcastle United are in a much better PSR position, but continue to feel the effects of the Premier League’s financial rules.

This summer was a bit different for the Magpies. They made six senior signings worth more than £250million, while they also received a British record transfer fee of £125million when Alexander Isak joined Liverpool.

Newcastle’s summer spending was the culmination of a lack of activity in recent windows, with PSR limiting Eddie Howe’s capacity to strengthen his squad.

It actually made them weaker, with Newcastle forced to sell Elliot Anderson in 2024. He joined Nottingham Forest for £35million, in a deal that Howe has regretted ever since the midfielder walked through the door at the City Ground.

That regret has only intensified in recent weeks following Anderson’s England debut, and now Joe Cole has made a fresh claim on the 22-year-old that will hurt Newcastle United even more.

Elliot Anderson backed to leave Nottingham Forest

Following Nottingham Forest’s 2-2 draw with Real Betis in the Europa League, former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole could not hide his admiration for Elliot Anderson.

Cole backed Anderson to start for England at the 2026 World Cup, while he also does not believe he will be playing for Nottingham Forest for much longer.

“I think he [Anderson] plays for England at the World Cup,” he told TNT Sports.

“Forest fans won’t thank me for saying this, but he’s not at this club a long time. I think he’s that good.

“I see something in him. He’s a winner. There was a moment at the Euros when he was dropped for a game. He came on and scored the penalty, and there was an anger in his face. I can just tell there’s a belief in him. The way he snaps into tackles.

“As a player, I would want Elliot Anderson in my team playing next to me. I think Thomas Tuchel has seen that. If he keeps going on the trajectory that he’s on, the sky is the limit for the kid.”

Newcastle United do not have a buyback clause for Elliot Anderson

His comments will frustrate Forest fans, but Cole thinks that Anderson can play at an even higher level.

In a perfect world, that higher level would coincide with a return to St James’ Park. That would be simple if Newcastle had a buyback clause for the local lad, but that is pure fantasy.

Newcastle do not have a buyback clause for Anderson. When he was sold, the Magpies were not in a position of strength. It was the complete opposite, as they were forced to cash in on an immensely talented academy product to avoid breaching PSR and suffering a points deduction.

It was needs must for Newcastle, meaning there was simply no way they could negotiate a buyback clause with their Premier League rivals.

Instead, Newcastle watch from afar as Anderson goes from strength to strength. Cole expects that to continue, in a season that could end with him playing for England at the World Cup.