Manchester City bids £106m for Elliot Anderson as Forest Resists

Manchester City have tabled a £106 million upfront offer for England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Nottingham Forest have responded that any sale must exceed the £125 million British record set by Liverpool for Alexander Isak. The City proposal includes add‑on clauses that could lift the total value beyond £120 million. The club’s verbal offer signals a willingness to pay a premium for certainty. Forest’s demand aims to eclipse the £125 million fee Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer. The stance reflects the club’s view of Anderson as a top‑valued midfield asset. Anderson arrived at Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2023 for a reported £35 million fee, with the deal’s structure involving Odysseas Vlachodimos moving the other way and valuing Anderson at £15 million. Three years on, Forest treat him as one of Europe’s most valuable midfielders. In the 2025‑26 Premier League season, Anderson featured in all 38 matches, scoring four goals and providing four assists. His attributes are described as control, durability and tactical flexibility rather than headline‑grabbing statistics. The England international made his senior debut in September last year and has retained a role under manager Thomas Tuchel, wearing the No 8 shirt in the World Cup squad. His age of 23 underscores his potential longevity. Manchester United have expressed admiration for Anderson but are not prepared to match a price north of £100 million, instead targeting West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. Their approach suggests a more restrained spending strategy. City’s pursuit appears driven by succession planning, while Forest views a sale as transformational money. The negotiations highlight the scarcity and premium placed on young, Premier League‑proven English midfielders.