Nottingham Forest have rejected Manchester City’s opening offer for Elliot Anderson, according to reports. Despite the bid being turned down, City’s pursuit of the England international remains ongoing, with the Premier League champions keen to bolster their midfield this summer.
Forest’s Stance on Anderson
The Athletic reports that Forest will look to secure the best possible deal for Anderson if he is to leave the City Ground this summer. The club would only consider offers exceeding £100m for the 23-year-old, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest young midfielders since joining from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024.
Interest from Manchester United
Both Manchester City and Manchester United had been keen on signing Anderson this summer. However, Old Trafford chiefs are not willing to meet the £100m asking price. Furthermore, United understand that Anderson would prefer a move to City over them.
Anderson is currently preparing for the start of the World Cup in the United States. Speaking after Forest’s final Premier League game of the season, manager Vitor Pereira was asked about Anderson’s future.
“I don’t have the answer. If you ask me if he deserves the best clubs in the world, he deserves,” Pereira said. “He has a lot of quality, he is a talent. But he is our player and I am very happy with him. The market is the market, I cannot predict the market. I know we want to keep the same players, to bring two or three players to help us balance the squad. In the end, we’ll see.”
Pereira added: “This season was very, very tight in terms of the battle of relegation. Teams like Tottenham, West Ham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, this season was very tough. To be safe three games before the end of the season, the last two games are very difficult in my experience. We did well, we competed, we went in a semi-final. It is not easy with the two competitions, struggling in one and trying to move forward in another. In the end, I am proud. We are proud of our work, of our supporters. I believe that next season we can go and do good things.”
Manchester City are preparing for a significant transfer window, with midfield reinforcements a priority. The rejection of their opening bid for Anderson suggests negotiations may continue, but Forest’s firm stance indicates any deal will require a record-breaking fee.
