Manchester City Pursues Nottingham Forest Star Elliot Anderson

Manchester City are moving through the gears in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, with the Premier League champions now driving hard to close a deal before England fly out for this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Talks between City and Forest are active and advancing, and there is a clear timeline in mind: get it done before the tournament, or risk paying even more later.

City’s next midfield cornerstone

City have been at the front of the queue for Anderson for some time, quietly putting in the groundwork while others watched on. Manchester United admire him, and have done for months, but City’s interest has been deeper and longer. Inside the Etihad, they don’t just see a good signing; they see a pillar for the next era.

At 23, Anderson has turned himself into one of the most highly-rated midfielders in English football after a blistering spell with Nottingham Forest. His form has pushed him firmly into England contention and, within City, he is viewed as one of the standout homegrown talents capable of anchoring their midfield for years.

Forest have been bracing for this moment. They know the market, they know his trajectory, and they know they hold a prized asset. They are preparing for life without him, but not at a discount.

A deal that could rewrite the record books

Forest believe Anderson now sits at “top-of-the-market” level. City, led on this deal by sporting director Hugo Viana, are prepared to meet that reality.

Sources close to the negotiations indicate City are willing to break their own transfer record to land him. That record currently stands at the £100m they paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish in 2021.

Forest, though, are aiming even higher. The expectation from their side is that Anderson should become the most expensive English player in history, eclipsing the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham United for Declan Rice.

There is a neat twist to that. Both Anderson and Rice are expected to play major roles together in Thomas Tuchel’s England midfield at the World Cup this summer. Shine on that stage, and Anderson’s value only goes one way.

City know it. That is why they are pushing now.

Terms in place, clock ticking

On the player’s side, the picture is already clear. Personal terms between Anderson and City are agreed in principle. The plan is a long-term, five-year contract once the two clubs settle on the final fee and payment structure.

City’s hierarchy want those details nailed down before the World Cup kicks off. Inside the club, there is a growing belief that completing the move early is essential, not just to avoid a post-tournament price surge, but to lock in a central piece of their midfield rebuild.

Bernardo Silva is leaving. Rodri could follow. Those are seismic departures in the heart of Guardiola’s old machine, and the incoming coaching team sees Anderson as central to the reset: energetic, tactically sharp, a powerful carrier of the ball, and comfortable across multiple roles in the middle of the pitch.

They do not just see a squad option. They see a future leading midfielder on the world stage.

England watching closely

This is not only a club issue. England’s coaching staff are also keen for Anderson’s future to be resolved before the World Cup begins. They want a clear head, no distractions, just football.

A completed move to City before the squad lands in North America would do exactly that. It would allow Tuchel and his staff to work with a player whose immediate future is settled, whose focus can be fully on England rather than on agents, calls, and negotiations.

Forest’s stance and United’s fading hope

For Forest, this is potentially one of the biggest sales in Premier League history. The money, if City meet their demands, would reshape their own planning and recruitment.

Yet the message from the City Ground is firm: Anderson will not leave cheaply. His age, his homegrown status, his performances, and his upward curve are all being used to justify a record-breaking valuation. Forest believe the market backs them.

Manchester United remain admirers and have monitored the situation, but City’s long-term groundwork and advanced talks have put them firmly in pole position. Unless something dramatic changes, the blue half of Manchester looks far more likely to land him than the red.

The race is now about timing, not intent. With negotiations progressing and City determined to move at speed, one of the summer’s defining transfers is being squeezed into a narrow window — before England board that flight, and before Elliot Anderson steps onto the biggest stage with a price tag that may soon rewrite the record books.