Manchester City pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder, Elliot Anderson, has hit a roadblock as their second offer worth £120m was turned down. The 23-year-old England international has been on the radar of the Premier League champions for some time now.
City had previously made an initial offer of £106m plus add-ons which was also rejected by Forest. If successful in their pursuit, this would surpass the record transfer fee for an English player - a title currently held by Arsenal who paid West Ham £105m for Declan Rice in 2023.
Despite having their opening bid rejected earlier this month, City remains undeterred in their quest to secure Anderson. The player himself is believed to prefer a move to Etihad Stadium over Manchester United and personal terms are reportedly not an issue.
United out of the race
Manchester United have effectively withdrawn from contention, unwilling to engage in a bidding war and preferring players who are eager to join them. This leaves City as the frontrunners in securing Anderson's services.
Anderson has been one of Forest's standout performers last season helping them reach the Europa League semi-finals and avoid relegation from the Premier League despite managerial instability with four different managers at helm during that period. Since his arrival from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m, he has made 92 appearances and scored six goals.
Currently preparing for World Cup duties with England team in North America, club-to-club talks regarding his transfer can continue unabatedly. He recently started England’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica - marking it as final friendly before their opening World Cup game against Croatia on June 17th.
Filling Silva’s shoes
With Bernardo Silva set to leave at end of his contract term, Manchester City are keen on bolstering their midfield. Anderson tops the list of potential targets to fill this void.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is another player who has caught City's eye. Reports suggest that the Italy international is also being monitored as a long-term target.
The transfer saga involving Elliot Anderson continues to unfold with Manchester City showing no signs of backing down from their pursuit. As sports fans and betting enthusiasts keep a keen eye on developments, it remains to be seen if City will succeed in securing Anderson or turn their focus towards other potential targets like Sandro Tonali.
