England star 'didn't want to leave' Newcastle United - now his value has tripled
Newcastle United and England defender Dan Burn has discussed Elliot Anderson’s progress since his £35million move to Nottingham Forest.
Dan Burn has suggested Elliot Anderson's reluctant departure from Newcastle United may have been necessary for his international breakthrough with England.
Anderson has impressed for England so far at the World Cup and is now on the verge of a £116million record transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City.
It leaves Newcastle thinking what could have been, two years on from his PSR-influenced £35million sale to Forest. Now Forest are not only set to more than triple what they paid for him, they also received £20million for Odysseas Vlachodimos as part of the deal - a player yet to make a Premier League appearances for the Magpies.
Going from a squad player at Newcastle to a key part of Nottingham Forest’s midfield has undoubtedly helped Anderson flourish and develop into the player he is today.
And Anderson’s former Newcastle and current England teammate Burn questioned whether the 23-year-old would be with the England squad in the United States had he stayed at his boyhood club?
Speaking during an England press conference, Burn said: “I think hindsight is a wonderful thing. I don’t think [Anderson] wanted to leave Newcastle. But would he be in the position he is in now if still was at Newcastle?
“He is very composed and nothing really seems to faze Elliot from what I have seen. From him coming through as a kid, training with Newcastle, to now starting in the World Cup. Never changes character, always wanting the ball.