Manchester City Pursue Elliot Anderson Amid Nottingham Forest Rejection

Manchester City have seen their opening move for Elliot Anderson knocked back, but the champions are not expected to walk away.

Nottingham Forest have rejected City’s first bid for the 23-year-old midfielder, who is increasingly tipped to leave the City Ground this summer. City’s offer, reported by The Athletic, formalises an interest that has been building for months in one of the Premier League’s breakout performers.

BBC Sport reported last week that Anderson is leaning towards a switch to Etihad Stadium rather than Manchester United. That preference matters. When the fee is likely to shatter records, the player’s choice often decides the endgame.

A rising star with record-breaking value

Anderson’s stock has soared after a stellar season with Forest, where he drove their survival push and grew into one of the most complete midfielders in the division. His form has carried him all the way into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, a rapid ascent that has turned him from promising prospect into marquee asset.

The numbers being discussed underline that shift. Any eventual agreement could set a new record for a British player, eclipsing the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023. Forest know they hold a premium talent under a long contract and are under no pressure to accept the first knock on the door.

For City, that price bracket is familiar territory. When they decide a player fits the model, they tend to stay at the table.

City’s midfield reset

This pursuit comes at a moment of change in City’s engine room. Captain Bernardo Silva is set to depart, leaving a creative and emotional void in the side. Anderson has emerged as the leading candidate to help reshape that midfield, his versatility and intensity ticking several of Pep Guardiola’s key boxes.

City have tracked the Newcastle academy graduate for years. While Anderson prepares with England for the World Cup, club-to-club talks can roll on in the background, agents and executives working while the player focuses on the tournament.

He is not the only name under consideration. Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali is also understood to be highly rated inside the Etihad, viewed as a long-term option and monitored closely. City are weighing profiles, ages and price points, but Anderson currently sits at the top of that list.

At the same time, Nico Gonzalez faces an uncertain future. The midfielder missed out on Spain’s World Cup squad and fell out of favour under Guardiola last season. If a suitable offer arrives, both club and player may be ready to part ways, freeing space and funds for the next wave.

Full-back evolution continues

The rebuild is not limited to midfield. City are also in the market for a right-back after Matheus Nunes, 28, excelled in the role this season following his conversion from midfield. His performances gave Guardiola tactical flexibility, but the club want a specialist in that position who can grow with the team.

Recruitment staff are targeting a young, natural full-back who can be developed over time rather than a short-term fix. The idea is clear: refresh the squad without losing the technical control and positional fluidity that define City’s play.

For now, the spotlight stays on Anderson. Forest have turned away the first bid, but the champions rarely stop at one attempt. With a World Cup on the horizon and a record fee in play, how long can Nottingham Forest hold their nerve?