Report now suggests that Elliot Anderson's move to Nottingham Forest almost fell apart hours before going through

To say that nobody wanted the transfer of Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest to go through on the Magpies' side would be understating things.

Elliot Anderson wanted to stay at his boyhood club, feeling that this would be his season to really kick on. Eddie Howe had the same thoughts. Even the board wanted to keep him around.

Unfortunately, the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules had other ideas, and with Newcastle looking at a £70 million hole in the accounts ahead of the PSR reporting deadline, they had to sanction the sale of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for £35 million with Yankuba Minteh heading to Brighton for £33 million on the same day.

It worked, and Newcastle avoided sanctions, but nobody was happy about either deal.

Getty Images

Newcastle almost kept hold of Elliot Anderson in the summer

Now, The Athletic have reported just how close Newcastle came to keeping hold of Anderson. The midfielder was ready to sign on the dotted line with a new deal in place at St James' Park before suddenly being whisked away to Nottingham to meet Nuno Espirito Santo and Co.

“Minutes before the deadline, there was a concrete possibility that the deal would fall through.

"Conversations were held at ownership level to hasten the process, with Jamie Reuben and Evangelos Marinakis locked in discussions, alongside Newcastle CEO Darren Eales and Anderson’s agent, David Manasseh.

“Newcastle had initially wanted [Anthony] Elanga to go the other way as part of the deal, but Forest were reluctant to sell — a decision justified by the winger’s excellent season — and the two sides could not agree a fee. Instead, Newcastle had to settle for [Odysseas] Vlachodimos, having held far less of an interest in the goalkeeper.”

Elliot Anderson will make his St James' Park return on Sunday

The fact that Newcastle had to take Odysseas Vlachodimos for £20 million as part of the deal was just adding insult to injury. Newcastle didn't want or need the Greek international, as has been made perfectly clear by his lack of appearances this season.

Elliot Anderson returns to St James' Park on Sunday as Nottingham Forest play Newcastle in the Sky Sports televised kick-off at 2pm.

Hopefully, his return isn't as successful as Chris Wood's when the Kiwi scored hat-trick.