Eddie Howe bemused at Premier League rule that has impacted Newcastle United & Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has slammed existing financial rules because it encourages clubs to sell their academy prospects.
The Magpies travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday (kick-off 2pm) and will come up against a familiar face in Elliot Anderson, who they forced to sell in the summer in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
In a PSR world, offloading an academy graduate is noted as “pure profit” on the balance sheets, something Howe doesn’t believe is right.
Reflecting on Anderson’s departure, Howe said: "Elliot is a sale we didn't want to make. Nobody wanted to make that sale but we had to. It's an unusual place because I think that will be happening again, not just here but at other clubs, selling players for financial reasons.
"It's not something that has been done in the history of the game unless you're under restrictions. Having the backing but having to sell because of the rules is a new one.
"Like I’ve said before I don’t understand the rationale. I don’t understand why we’re in a position to incentivise selling academy products. I don’t necessarily think they started with that intention of forcing teams to make those decisions.
“So for us to put all the work into Elliot, the academy, the coaches, the time, to then see him leave and flourish for another Premier League club is something that we feel we should be in a position to do."
Newcastle banked £35m from the sale of Anderson, although paid a significant fee to sign Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos in return in what essentially viewed as a PSR trade-off.
Vlachodimos has made just one substitute appearance for United while Anderson has established as one of Forest’s most important players.
"I don't think he wanted to leave a club he came through and is very attached to emotionally,” said Howe.
"Sometimes it can be good for both parties. We needed the deal to happen and Elliot saw it as an opportunity to go to a really good progressive football club and to play potentially more regularly, as you say.
"He's certainly reaping the rewards of those games. I've watched a lot of him and he's done really well. To no surprise to us, we're looking at him saying that's the player we saw for us at the back end of last season when he played a lot. He's got goals, assists and products to his game."
Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall earned his first senior England call-up this week and Howe believes Anderson is capable of doing the same.
The 22-year-old is eligible to represent both the Three Lions and Scotland but is understood to have chosen the former having featured in the under-21s squad in recent months.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, in my opinion," Howe said when asked if Anderson could play for England.
"I remember having many conversations with Elliot about his international future, because that was slightly up in the air. For me, he should set his dreams and his aims very high, because it was obvious he had the ability to get to wherever he wanted to go. England is a big aim for him and I see that in his future, definitely."