Elliot Anderson’s Newcastle United career may go down as a huge ‘what if’ for years and years to come.

Initially, the local lad never really stood a chance competing with Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali for a place in Eddie Howe’s preferred midfield.

But seeing the player that he has become over the last 12 months at Nottingham Forest really stings, and fans have begun clamouring for the youngster’s return to Tyneside to be our next big star.

According to a new report, however, this could be a lot more difficult (and expensive) pursuit than almost anyone will have expected, as other Premier League clubs have Anderson on their radar as well.

Forest demands for Anderson sale revealed

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Nottingham Forest are aware of Newcastle’s interest in bringing Elliot Anderson back to Tyneside

However, we are not the only ones, as Sky reveal that Manchester United have also registered their interest in signing the all-action England international.

And in response to that, it’s believe Forest have slapped an astronomical asking price of £100-120m on the midfielder ahead of next summer’s transfer window.

It had been widely hoped that we had included a buy-back clause in Anderson’s contract upon his departure, but Sky report that there is NO release clause in his current deal.

🚨🆕 Manchester United and Newcastle are just two of many top clubs closely monitoring Elliot #Anderson. Their interest has already been registered. #MUFC

Forest are aware. Key player. Understand for a transfer in the summer, a fee of around £100–120 million is currently being… pic.twitter.com/Tys3PVUHbe

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) October 27, 2025

This reported fee could eclipse Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice as the most expensive English players of all time, although it does seem an inflated figure and one Newcastle won’t go close to, no matter how much we’d love him back at the club.

Play the waiting game, or strike now to sign Anderson?

After a torrid start to the season, which includes being in the relegation zone and onto their third permanent manager, Nottingham Forest could find themselves in a tense relegation battle if things don’t dramatically improve.

This could lead to a mass exodus of their biggest stars like Anderson, Murillo and Gibbs-White. And we should try to be first in the queue to sign any of these top Prem-proven talents.

However, Forest look to be in no need nor rush to sell anybody any time soon, hence why they have priced Anderson so highly knowing a club like Manchester United could conjure up the cash.

So our recruitment team has been left with quite the predicament: pay a mammoth fee to secure ourselves a starting midfielder for the next few years and long-term Joelinton replacement.

Or hope that Forest’s stance softens over the course of the next couple of seasons, and try to buy Anderson closer to the end of his contract (2029) for a far more reasonable fee.