There have been several cases of Wolves missing out on players who have gone on to shine – and yet another star is starting to look like a real regret for Molineux officials.
Wanderers fans have had the pleasure of watching some top players down the years at Molineux.
The likes of Diogo Jota, Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha have all lit up Molineux and created some amazing memories.
But there have also been players Wolves were keen to sign but didn’t, including Viktor Gyokeres and Enzo Fernandez. Famously, chairman Jeff Shi was out of the country as Wolves were negotiating for Gyokeres, and in the end the club lost out to Sporting CP.
And just recently, a player Wolves could have signed in 2024 as part of a swap deal has really started to dazzle in the Premier League.
And that player is Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Wolves rejected Elliot Anderson swap proposal in 2024
In the summer of 2024, Newcastle United offered Elliot Anderson to Wolves in exchange for centre-back Max Kilman.
As per the Telegraph, Newcastle offered Anderson-plus-cash for Kilman. But the deal ‘in its current form was of no interest to Wolves’.
That rejection by Wolves was perhaps a sliding doors moment.
Kilman was sold later in the window to West Ham United for £40 million, a deal that has earned Wanderers praise with the defender struggling to live up to expectations.
Anderson was sold to Nottingham Forest for £35 million to help Newcastle with their PSR worries – and the star is now looking a serious talent.
Anderson now shining for Nottingham Forest after Wolves declined deal
Wolves have a very strong midfield pairing with Joao Gomes and Andre.
But the depth beyond the Brazilian duo is questionable, and plenty of Wolves fans would certainly love someone like Anderson now. Especially given the criticism for both Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Marshall Munetsi in recent times.
Of course, Anderson may not have enjoyed the same development had he come to Molineux as part of that swap proposal involving Kilman.
But there is no denying he looks a fantastic player now. Data MB report that he is the highest-performing midfielder in the Premier League so far in 2025/26, with a score of 97, putting him ahead of Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Martin Zubimendi.
As per Opta Jose, no player across Europe’s top five leagues has made more ball recoveries than Anderson (55).
And he isn’t just shining for Forest. Anderson made his debut for England recently, and has shone in the three games he’s played under Thomas Tuchel.
As per the Telegraph, since his debut against Andorra, Anderson is the England player who has won the most duels (20), tackles (6) and had the most touches (313). At this point, he is looking a very safe bet to make the Three Lions’ World Cup squad next summer.
Recently, Eddie Howe admitted the Anderson sale to Forest never sat right with him and that it still doesn’t to this day – but he had no choice but to watch it happen due to Newcastle’s PSR worries.
Nuno Espirito Santo – who recently left Forest of course – has also previously dubbed Anderson ‘an amazing talent’ (via Sky Sports), and simply put, it is a real shame that he never ended up in old gold.
The Kilman sale was a good one from Wolves, but he could have been used to snag a top prospect in Anderson and the midfielder’s development may now have some Molineux officials feeling slightly uncomfortable.