Manchester City Bid for Elliot Anderson Rejected by Nottingham Forest
Manchester City have had their first move for Elliot Anderson knocked back, but the message from the champions is clear: they want him, and they are prepared to push.
Nottingham Forest have rejected an opening offer for the 23-year-old midfielder, who is emerging as one of the most coveted players in the Premier League after a standout season at the City Ground. City’s bid, reported by The Athletic, formalises an interest that has been simmering for some time.
Forest know exactly what they have on their hands. So do City. So does the rest of Europe.
A rising star on the brink of a record move
Anderson, a Newcastle academy graduate, has just forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup after a stellar campaign in the Midlands. His form for Forest has not only dragged his club clear of danger, it has propelled him into the conversation as one of the most valuable British players in history.
Any deal this summer is expected to smash records. The potential fee could eclipse the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023, a figure that reset the market for elite homegrown midfielders. Forest are under no pressure to sell cheaply, and City know the starting price will be eye-watering.
Yet the pull of the Etihad is strong. BBC Sport reported last week that Anderson is leaning towards a move to Manchester City over Manchester United, a telling detail in a battle between two of English football’s giants. There is a growing expectation he will leave the City Ground in this window; the only real questions now concern destination and size of cheque.
For the moment, Anderson is focused on international duty, preparing for a World Cup staged across the US, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will dominate his days. The transfer market will quietly shape his nights, as club-to-club talks roll on in the background.
City’s midfield reset after Bernardo Silva
City’s interest comes at a pivotal moment in their own evolution. Captain Bernardo Silva is heading for the exit, and his departure rips a hole straight through the heart of Pep Guardiola’s midfield. Creativity, control, leadership – it all needs replacing.
Anderson sits at the top of City’s list of targets to help fill that void. They have tracked him for a long time, impressed by his blend of energy, technical quality and intelligence between the lines. At 23, he fits the profile of a player who can be moulded into the next long-term pillar of Guardiola’s side.
The champions are not limiting themselves to one option. Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is also understood to be highly rated within the Etihad recruitment department, with the Italy international monitored as a long-term target. City’s gaze is fixed firmly on the next cycle of their midfield, not just the next season.
At the same time, there could be movement out of the door. Nico Gonzalez, who missed out on Spain’s World Cup squad and slipped out of favour under Guardiola last season, may leave if a suitable offer arrives. His situation underlines how ruthless City’s refresh can be: if you are not central to the project, you are suddenly very available.
Full-back evolution continues
The rebuild does not stop in the middle of the pitch. City are also in the market for a right-back to complement Matheus Nunes, 28, who excelled in that role this season after being converted from midfield.
Nunes’ reinvention has been one of Guardiola’s more intriguing tweaks, but City want a natural full-back on that flank – younger, specialist, and capable of growing into the role over several years. The idea is clear: build the next defensive core now, while the current one is still winning.
For all the tactical detail and long-term planning, the headline remains simple. City have moved for Elliot Anderson. Forest have said no to the first attempt.
The champions rarely stop at one try.
