Nottingham Forest refused to entertain offers in January, while Anderson did not agitate for a mid-season move, but with Forest in a relegation battle and potentially without European football next season, there is a strong chance the 23-year-old departs the City Ground after the 2026 World Cup.
Only One Thing Will Keep Elliot Anderson At Nottingham Forest This Summer
Although Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis will fight to keep Anderson, Forest would likely have to win the Europa League and secure Champions League football for next campaign to convince Anderson to stay.
Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle United in summer 2024 for a fee of £35million and both Manchester clubs are willing to pay around double that price tag.
Forest have not named a price to any suitor, while reports have suggested a wide range of potential fees ranging from £80million to £120million.
GMS understands both Manchester clubs want to do a deal for significantly south of £100million. At this stage, the number at which Forest will do business is unclear since it will be influenced by both demand and what division Vitor Pereira’s side are in next season.
City are currently stepping up their efforts as they seek a long-term successor to Rodri, whose current contract expires in summer 2027. And with Bernando Silva also set to leave the club at the end of this season, adding to central midfield is one of the top priorities this summer.
Manchester United Have A Shortlist Of Midfielders This Summer
Manchester United want to add two senior midfielders this summer with both a defined six and a box-to-box eight areas being worked on. United still retain an interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, while other names considered include Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Newcastle United’s Sando Tonali.
United also appreciate Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, who came up in talks shortly before Alejandro Garnacho moved to Stamford Bridge last summer. However, the Blues have shown no willingness to entertain offers for the Brazilian midfielder, who is well-known to head coach Liam Rosenior.
Anderson, who has made 78 appearances for Forest and scored four goals, has other suitors in addition to the two Manchester clubs. Chelsea are monitoring his situation, but are currently well-stocked in the centre of the park.
Bayern Munich are another club who have been tracking Anderson throughout this season, but GMS understands he prefers to stay in England.
Return To Newcastle Is A No-Go
Suggestions Newcastle United could try and re-sign Anderson are currently premature. Club sources have downplayed Newcastle’s ability to match the package other suitors are prepared to offer to both Forest and the player. However, should Newcastle lose Tonali or Bruno Guimarães this summer, there is no doubt they will be in market for another central midfielder.
Anderson did not want to leave his boyhood club, but accepted the move to Forest knowing Newcastle had to make the sale to satisfy PSR concerns.
With a professional MMA career spanning over 15 years, Poirier has endured his fair share of hits. While his unanimous decision loss to Holloway at UFC 318 certainly wasn’t the final fight he would’ve hoped for, his professional record of 30-10 stands as testament to his long and storied time in the sport.
Dustin Poirier’s MMA Career
Initially fighting across various regional promotions in his native Louisiana and Southern US, Poirier boasted a 7-0 record before his World Extreme Cagefighting debut provided the first loss of his career at the hands of Danny Castillo at WEC 50. A first-round TKO of Zach Micklewright at WEC 52 concluded his participation in the promotion, as it was merged with the UFC.
His life in the UFC started with a four-fight win streak, including a submission victory over Max Holloway, before his first loss, courtesy of Jung Chan-sung.
The Diamond’s wait for a UFC title ended in 2019 with yet another bout against Holloway, in which the judges unanimously hailed Poirier the victor, awarding him the interim UFC lightweight title in the process. However, his reign lasted only five months, having submitted to Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s rear-naked choke hold at UFC 242.
Dustin Poirier on Hardest Hitting Opponent
Of Poirier’s 10 losses, only three came via KO/TKO, but one fighter’s striking ability stood out from the rest.
“Conor McGregor, no doubt about it. As the biggest puncher I’ve fought? Yeah. He’s a special individual, for sure,” he revealed in an interview with Valuetainment. “Fought him in 2014; lost, and that was when his trajectory was just… sky was the limit.”
The fierce rivalry shared between the pair first emerged ahead of their 2014 bout at UFC 178. Within two minutes of the first round, McGregor had dropped his opponent to the floor, before pouncing on the stricken Poirier and unleashing another barrage of strikes, forcing the referee to call it off, only one minute and 46 seconds into the fight.
Reflecting on whether the Irishman had lost any of his punching power prior to their rematch at UFC 257, Poirier suggested that it was a change in his mental approach that allowed him to set up a trilogy fight: “Still the same; very dangerous. It’s just, I felt differently mentally going into it.”
Poirier opened the 2021 rematch by focusing on McGregor’s left calf. With the Dublin-born fighter landing a flurry of clean shots, The Diamond remained undeterred, focusing on breaking down the Irishman’s leg.
At the beginning of the second round, McGregor stunned the American with a strong left-hand, but, once again, Poirier remained focused. With McGregor’s calf becoming increasingly red, he was unable to use his notorious striking power due to his inability to put weight on his left leg. Smelling weakness, Poirier dropped him with a right hook before unraveling a series of blows, ending the bout.
As the pair trash-talked one another following the rematch, everything was poised for one of the fights of the year, a trilogy bout to settle it once and for all. In the first round of their UFC 264 meeting, the pair traded a series of punches and kicks, attempting to work out an opportunity in which to stop the fight early.
As McGregor attempted to throw a left hand, his leg went underneath him, snapping in the process. As his screams echoed around the T-Mobile Arena, Poirier tried to seize his opponent’s misfortune, bombarding him with shots. The horn sounded and the Irishman’s screams continued, as the ringside doctor entered the cage and stopped the fight.
Both fighters, as well as UFC CEO Dana White, suggested a fourth instalment was on the cards once McGregor returned from injury, but his lengthy absence from the UFC, and Poirier’s decision to retire, put an end to such an idea.
Celtic have reportedly made a £6m offer to sign a new centre-back despite him holding talks with Rangers.
Celtic and Rangers are likely to shop in a similar market in the summer transfer window due to having a similar stature in the game.
The Bhoys could be able to attract a higher-profile player after winning the Scottish Premiership title and qualifying for Champions League football.
Rangers are preparing for life under a new manager after they were forced to replace Danny Rohl, who joined RB Salzburg earlier this month.
The Glasgow giants quickly brought in Derek McInnes from Hearts, and the hierarchy will potentially be looking to back him in the summer transfer market.
Celtic are in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer
Celtic Submit £6m Offer
According to journalist Rudy Galletti, Celtic have submitted an offer in the region of £6m to sign Zinedin Smalkjovic in the summer transfer window.
Rangers have held talks to sign the centre-back, while Olympiacos, Hull City, Fenerbahce, Toulouse, Feyenoord and Lyon are also in the race.
The 6’3″ defender is clearly a wanted man heading into the summer transfer window. Currently plying his trade in the top tier of Norway for Sandefjord.
It’s unclear whether the bid from Celtic is likely to meet the Norwegian side’s asking price, but it would be their biggest ever sale.
A retired UFC star was arrested on Sunday evening, and his mugshot has quickly done the rounds on social media.
On Sunday evening, legendary fighter Dustin Poirier was arrested on a ‘public drunk‘ charge. The 37-year-old was arrested at 6:38pm in Georgia before being released at 10pm later that same night.
The Louisiana native was one of the most-loved fighters during his UFC tenure, and was involved in a number of brilliant bouts against other legendary figures. His fights with the likes of Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje all cemented his status as a true fan-favourite.
Despite being adored by fans, it didn’t stop some on social media having a good laugh at his misdemeanour, including former fighter Colby Covington, who posted a video mocking Poirier for being arrested on Father’s Day. A number of different channels also posted his mugshot after his arrest, and fans were quick to have their say.
Dustin Poirier’s Mugshot Sparks Concern
Under a post from Championship Rounds on X, one follower said: “Someone check up on Dustin, bro, he’s looking empty inside”, while another said: “Damn feel bad for him after seeing this.”
Poirier does look a shell of his usual confident self in the mugshot, but as we have seen with many celebrity mugshots, they are seldom the most flattering photos.
Prior to the arrest, Poirier’s wife posted a photo on social media of the former interim UFC lightweight champion smiling alongside his two children celebrating Father’s Day on Sunday. The next time we hear from him is again on social media, when he posted on his Instagram story: “Love you all. I’m working on myself.”
Whether the recently-retired fighter is referring to working on himself after a mistake on the day or if it is a longer-term issue he is looking to address remains to be seen. But after previously calling out Conor McGregor for similar issues, it will be interesting to see if the brash Irishman has anything to say on the matter.
Dustin Poirier’s UFC Career
Poirier retired last year after a 14-year stint in the UFC. During his exciting spell in the company, The Diamond became known as a bit of a nearly man, having lost lightweight title fights against the likes of Islam Makhachev, Oliveira, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, as well as losing to both Holloway and Gaethje for the UFC “BMF” title.
Despite these losses on his CV, he does have big wins against stars like Benoit Saint-Denis, Michael Chandler, Eddie Alvarez and McGregor, and will always be seen as a legend of the sport.
Whatever Poirier’s issues are, hopefully he can get past them and enjoy retirement properly.
