In a move that’s set to ignite the January transfer window before it even begins, Liverpool have reportedly opened preliminary talks to bring Nottingham Forest’s breakout star Elliot Anderson back into the spotlight at Anfield. The 23-year-old Scottish midfielder, who only last year fetched Nottingham Forest a club-record £35 million ($46 million) from Newcastle United, has been the talk of the Premier League this season with his commanding presence in midfield. Dubbed a “young Jordan Henderson” by fellow professionals, Anderson’s blend of tenacity, vision, and leadership has Anfield insiders buzzing—and rivals scrambling.
The catalyst for this renewed interest? A glowing endorsement from an unlikely source: Championship striker Daryl Dike, the American forward currently plying his trade at West Bromwich Albion. In a candid TikTok clip that’s racked up over 500,000 views, Dike didn’t hold back on his admiration for the Forest talisman. “I think he’s a young Henderson,” Dike declared, his voice laced with conviction. “He’s going to be there; he’s going to have leadership qualities. I wouldn’t doubt him playing for Liverpool in the near future.”
Dike’s words aren’t mere hyperbole. Anderson has been a revelation since his summer 2024 switch to the City Ground, a forced sale by Newcastle to navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) pressures. Thrust into Nuno Espírito Santo’s high-pressing system, the ex-Magpie has started all but one of Forest’s Premier League matches this campaign, anchoring the midfield with a maturity far beyond his years. His stats speak volumes: 2 goals, 4 assists, and a league-leading 85% pass completion rate in central midfield, per Opta data. But it’s the intangibles—the way he marshals the tempo, wins duels (averaging 6.2 per 90 minutes), and inspires those around him—that evoke memories of Liverpool’s former captain, Henderson, during his Reds heyday.
Liverpool’s interest isn’t born in a vacuum. Back in the summer of 2024, as the club eyed reinforcements for Arne Slot’s evolving squad, they cast a longing glance toward Newcastle’s attacking assets, including Anthony Gordon. But with the Magpies desperate for PSR relief, it was academy product Anderson—and winger Yankuba Minteh—who were offloaded instead. Fast-forward 16 months, and the Reds see an opportunity to rectify what many view as a missed chance. Sources close to Anfield indicate initial feelers have been extended to Forest, with talks centered on a £40-45 million ($54-61 million) package that could include add-ons tied to Champions League qualification. Forest, buoyed by their surprise top-half finish last season, won’t let him go cheaply, but Anderson’s contract—running until 2029—gives Liverpool leverage if his head is turned.
The timing couldn’t be more poignant. Just days ago, Anderson earned a surprise call-up to the England senior squad for the upcoming international break, his first since a brief cameo in 2023. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the Nottingham native is eyeing a starring role under Gareth Southgate’s successor, whoever that may be. “Establishing myself here is everything,” Anderson told Sky Sports post-call-up. “I’ve learned so much at Forest, but I know I have more to give on the biggest stages.”
Yet, it’s not all smooth sailing for Liverpool’s pursuit. Manchester United, rebuilding under Ruben Amorim, have also been heavily linked, viewing Anderson as the ideal foil for their young engine room. Whispers from Old Trafford suggest they’ve already lodged an inquiry, ready to match or exceed Liverpool’s bid. And then there’s the emotional pull from his Geordie roots: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe laid bare his regrets in an emotional presser last month, admitting he’d “love” to repatriate the player he once nurtured.
“I don’t know [if he will come back] but certainly from my perspective I would love him to,” Howe confessed at the start of October, his voice tinged with frustration. “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. A player from the academy who had given so much, and the club had given so much to, all those years here and how people tried to develop those talents, for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.”
Howe’s candor laid bare the PSR saga’s scars. “[His sale] 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. I do think it is slightly sad that academy products are now seen as a vehicle to sell and generate profit. That side of it, for me, just doesn’t go in tune with the development of players which, ultimately, is crucial at the younger age.”
For Liverpool, though, this is less about sentiment and more about strategy. Slot’s side sits third in the Premier League table, unbeaten in their last eight, but midfield depth remains a concern amid Ryan Gravenberch’s injury woes and Wataru Endo’s international commitments. Anderson, with his box-to-box energy and right-footed precision, slots seamlessly into the void—offering the leadership Henderson once embodied without the former skipper’s occasional limitations in progressive passing.
As the winter window looms, Anfield faithful are dreaming of a reunion that feels almost predestined. Could Anderson, the “Henderson-esque” powerhouse, be the missing piece in Liverpool’s title puzzle? Dike’s prophecy might just prove prophetic. One thing’s certain: the Premier League’s midfield merry-go-round is spinning faster than ever, and Elliot Anderson is at its heart.