Sheffield Wednesday are interested in signing former Bristol Rovers loanee Elliot Anderson although, like the Gas, they will need to wait and see if Newcastle United want to keep the promising teenager for next season.
Yorkshire Live report that Anderson came close to joining the Owls in January only for injuries and suspensions to end their immediate interest, with the 19-year-old then joining Rovers on deadline day and enjoying a highly profitable second half of 2021/22.
Anderson was integral to the Gas' promotion drive up League Two, scoring seven - including the crucial seventh against Scunthorpe United - and assisting a further six goals as Joey Barton's side finished in the final automatic promotion spot on the last day of the season. Anderson was also named League Two Player and Young Player of the Month for April.
Barton has never shied away from the fact that he would love to have Anderson back at BS7 for another season but accepts such is the level of the midfielder's talent he has the potential to be a first-team option for Newcastle in the Premier League.
Eddie Howe has admitted he wants to take a thorough look at him over the summer before making a call on his short-term prospects, a decision that could run into late July with a whole host of clubs monitoring his situation.
Anderson did have Championship clubs scouting him during his time in north Bristol, with Millwall and Luton Town previously reported, but Newcastle's decisions will be driven fundamentally by where he'll earn the most game time and in the right coaching set-up, two aspects in which Rovers and Barton have very much delivered.
Now in League One, like Wednesday, Rovers would represent a step up the pyramid for Anderson, who played for Scotland Under-21s against Belgium on Sunday, but Howe stated last season how his preference was always for a Championship switch. That's a situation that could lead to greater doubter over how much he could play, though.
“We’ll have a close look at him, and he’ll be involved in the pre-season games," said Howe. "We’ll make a decision then on whether he needs another loan, or whether he’s going to stay with us.”
Signing a central midfielder is said to be high up on Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore's list of priorities this summer following the departure of Lewis Wing to Wycombe Wanderers and uncertainty around Massimo Luongo's future with the Australian out of contract at the end of this month.
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