Newcastle United miss out on Anderson's £120m Manchester City deal

Elliot Anderson, a product of Wallsend Boys Club and Newcastle United’s academy, is on the verge of a nine‑figure move to Manchester City. Newcastle United will receive no financial benefit from any record‑breaking transfer that follows his sale to Nottingham Forest. Manchester City consider the signing their number‑one summer priority to anchor the post‑Pep Guardiola era. The 23‑year‑old England international midfielder was sold to Nottingham Forest for £35 million in 2024 to avoid a six‑point Premier League deduction under the Profit and Sustainability Rules. CEO Darren Eales oversaw the deal in the temporary absence of a senior sporting director, and the transaction lacked long‑term safeguards. The sale was intended to protect Eddie Howe’s squad from the six‑point deduction. According to Lee Ryder, Newcastle United have no sell‑on clause, no percentage of a future Manchester City fee, and no buy‑back option in Anderson’s Nottingham Forest contract. Nottingham Forest therefore stand to retain 100 percent of a potential £130 million deal with Manchester City, leaving the North East club empty‑handed. Manchester City have already rejected an opening bid of around £85 million and have now proposed an initial £106 million plus £15 million in add‑ons. The club’s focus is on finalising a long‑term package that could rank Anderson as the third‑most expensive footballer of all time.