The recent victory of Newcastle United against Manchester City offered a much-needed moment of relief and a significant boost to their aspirations for European competition.
As the November international break began, manager Eddie Howe was certainly feeling the pressure following consecutive Premier League losses to Brentford and West Ham United.
He understood the immense importance of delivering a massive performance when club football resumed, and the successful battle against the reigning champions at St. James’ Park on Saturday evening proved to be momentous, helping the team regain crucial ground in the intense race for continental football.
While the season is still relatively young and optimism remains high regarding the Magpies’ chances of achieving success this year, Howe and technical director Ross Wilson are already focused intently on shaping the club’s long-term future.
They have reportedly identified a very specific and appealing target to help elevate this project to the next level: their own former academy product, Elliot Anderson.
For Newcastle, the situation surrounding Anderson is complex but clear. They are determined to be heavily involved in any future efforts to bring the homegrown star back to the club. However, this pursuit will undoubtedly require significant financial concessions, as his current club, Nottingham Forest, is expected to demand a transfer fee well in excess of $100 million for their highly valued asset.
This is further complicated by the fact that other major clubs, notably Manchester United, are also closely monitoring the 23-year-old midfielder.
Anderson’s original departure from the Tyneside club occurred in 2024 when he was sold to Forest for approximately $35 million. This sale was reportedly sanctioned reluctantly by officials from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), who felt they were essentially forced to cash in on the talented player in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations and balance the books.
That initial regret has since intensified. Anderson has evolved significantly, earning praise from the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, who has described him as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.” With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Anderson has been designated as a regular starter alongside Declan Rice for the national team.
While Newcastle’s clear vested interest and Howe’s stated desire to have him back he remarked in early October that he “would love him to” return home could lead to an exciting and concentrated bid, it is also true that the current Newcastle midfield is not exactly lacking.
However, there is a sense that Joelinton, following years of tireless and robust service, may be entering the twilight of his time as a guaranteed starter. Anderson would seamlessly integrate into what could become a formidable central midfield trio alongside the established talents of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães.
If the club needs to rearrange some personnel to finance this major acquisition, they appear willing to do so. In fact, there is one rather bold and potentially controversial sale that PIF might permit to ensure the club possesses the necessary funds to launch a compelling bid next year.
For some time, there has been internal discussion about the possibility of selling Anthony Gordon, a move that would be highly debated among the fanbase. Liverpool expressed an interest in their former academy talent in 2024, an opportunity that was ultimately passed up when the club chose to sell Anderson instead.
Gordon arrived at Newcastle from Everton for approximately $45 million in January 2023. After a challenging initial period on Tyneside, he made significant strides during the 2023/24 season, delivering 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and serving as a crucial figure as Howe’s squad navigated an injury-plagued year.
However, last season saw a regression in his offensive output; as Newcastle found greater success, returning to the Champions League and winning the Carabao Cup, Gordon managed only six Premier League goals throughout the entire campaign.
While his energetic playing style and commitment have placed him in a promising position to challenge players like Marcus Rashford for a regular starting spot in next year’s World Cup squad, a player of his calibre is expected to offer more consistent end product.
His once undisputed position on Howe’s left wing is increasingly looking like one that could benefit from a replacement, particularly as his recent poor form has been compounded by injuries and suspensions.
The impact of Harvey Barnes only highlights this potential shift. Barnes’s two goals against Manchester City clearly underscored his value and perfect fit within the current system.
That’s three goals in his last two Premier League appearances for the former Leicester winger, whose sharp incisiveness from the flank pairs perfectly with Nick Woltemade’s unique style of centre-forward play a striker willing to drop deep to influence play while also serving as a powerful target man.
Gordon’s blistering pace and his ability to stick to the touchline or cut inside to disrupt defenses are both brilliant facets of his game, but he simply needs to provide more clinical returns.
His failure to do so could be the key factor that leads Howe to approve his sale, thereby raising the necessary capital to fund a move for Anderson and potentially allowing for the shrewd signing of another winger to complement Barnes.
Frankly, Gordon’s recent form in front of goal has not been up to the standard required for a considerable period. His performance following the loss at West Ham was critically described by one source as bordering on “Gabriel Obertan territory,” which is simply not good enough for one of England’s most prominent wingers, a player who himself has proclaimed his playing style to be a “nightmare for anyone” he faces.
The following table summarises the recent statistics for a player who has shown consistency:
| Position | Apps | Goals (Assists) | Season |
| Midfield | 7 | 0 (0) | 2025/26 |
| Midfield | 34 | 6 (6) | 2024/25 |
| Midfield | 35 | 11 (10) | 2023/24 |
| Midfield | 16 | 1 (0) | 2022/23 |
Should Gordon fail to establish a prolific goalscoring form before the season concludes, serious questions will be raised about his future. Given that Liverpool have maintained their interest over the past couple of years, and were reportedly not deterred by Newcastle’s $100 million valuation of him, there could be a growing feeling of regret that he wasn’t sold sooner.
Barnes, after all, is beginning to find his goalscoring rhythm, while Gordon has failed to complete 60% of his dribbles in the top flight this term, missed several big chances, and failed to break his goal drought.
Anthony Gordon at full speed and potency in the final third and up and down the touchline is indeed a fearsome opponent for even the finest defenders. But his declaration of a “nightmarish” playing style can only carry so much weight if he is consistently unable to produce clinical results at the end of his runs.
One only needs to look at the successful acquisition of Alexander Isak and the goalscoring potential offered by Woltemade in the box to understand that selling Gordon for the right price would likely not be detrimental to Howe’s longer-term tactical plans.
And if those funds are then used to bring Elliot Anderson back home, effectively completing what could become the finest central midfield unit in the entire country, it would unquestionably be a worthwhile and strategic move for the club.
