Eddie Howe opened up about losing Newcastle United academy graduate for 'big discount' and says he'd take him back in heartbeat
Last summer, Newcastle United were forced into an awful situation that saw them sell two young stars that they'd much rather have kept hold of and developed in-house.
Yankuba Minteh had spent just one season on the books and Newcastle, and that time was spent on loan at Feyenoord, playing under current Liverpool boss Arne Slot. So impressive was he during that loan spell that Newcastle fans were hoping that he'd remain as part of Newcastle's first team the following season, instead PSR forced the Magpies into an immediate sale to avoid a points deduction.
While Minteh moved to Brighton for £33 million, at the same time, Newcastle were also in talks to allow Elliot Anderson to leave for Nottingham Forest for £35 million, and that was the move that really stung.
Anderson had risen through the academy and was such an exciting player who Eddie Howe adored, but ridiculous Premier League rules meant that the Magpies had to part with one of their most promising players or face a points deduction, which the club just weren't ready to accept.
Eddie Howe adored Elliot Anderson and really didn't want him to leave
Elliot Anderson has gone from strength to strength at Forest and is now an England international. Eddie Howe admitted this morning that he has mixed emotions when watching him play after letting him go so cheaply.
“Yeah, we knew that [Anderson was a bargain], We knew that the minute it was going to happen, and likely to happen, that we were massively selling him a big discount.
“But the position we were in, we weren't in a very strong negotiating position at all. And it was that or a points deduction. So I said many times we had no choice but to make the sale, but it was not one we wanted to do.
“Every time I watch him play, there's mixed feelings.I'm very, very pleased for him personally and his family, knowing just what a great lad he is.
“How hard he's worked at his game, seeing behind the scenes how dedicated he was to his profession. Very professional lad and then you see how well he plays and that's where the mixed feelings come in because there's a regret that it’s not for us.
“Outstanding on the ball. Great technician. Very, very brave. I loved that about him early on. Started to work with him. He wants the ball in every situation and he uses it really, really well. So, yeah, I hope his career continues to go from strength to strength.”
Eddie Howe is clearly still furious about the PSR restrictions that forced the sale
Newcastle fans have been hoping and praying that the club were savvy enough to include a buy-back clause, but that was unfortunately not the case. However, Howe hasn't ruled out a return for the local lad while having another swipe at the restrictive PSR conditions that led to his sale.
“Certainly, from my perspective, I would love him to [return]. I’m very respectful of the fact he is at another football club and I would never normally talk about a player in that way, so, I won’t change that stance but…yeah.
“It is very regretful that a player from the academy who had given so much and the club had given so much too, the coaching staff, all those years here and how people tried to develop those talents, for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.
“I wouldn't say it's on my mind every day, but there are certain reminders in certain moments.
“It didn't sit right with me then, doesn't sit right with me today that we as a football club were forced to make a decision that we didn't want to make and a player that had given everything to rise through the ranks here to try to play for Newcastle, that was ended by financial restrictions.
“But it's happened and we wish Elliot nothing but success. It's nothing at all to do with him, it's to do with the restrictions we were under."
