Man City weigh third bid for Elliot Anderson after £120m offer rejected by Forest

Manchester City are preparing to make a third offer for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson after their latest bid, worth a total of £120m, was rejected by the club this week.

The offer comprised an initial £106m with £14m in add-ons, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to be pushing for a larger up-front fee. Forest are reportedly targeting a British-record transfer, with hopes of surpassing the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer — pointing to the £100m-plus fees previously commanded by Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo as benchmarks for Anderson’s value.

Anderson, 23, is under contract at the City Ground until 2029 and is understood to favour a move to the Etihad. Manchester United have largely withdrawn from the running after balking at Forest’s asking price, leaving City as the only serious suitor. Despite that leverage, City are said to be willing to play a waiting game rather than be drawn into an inflated bidding war.

Anderson’s involvement in England’s World Cup campaign is expected to delay the formal completion of any deal, though City and Forest could still agree on a fee and transfer terms while the tournament is ongoing. Anderson is set to partner Declan Rice in Thomas Tuchel’s midfield when England open their campaign against Croatia.

City are also monitoring Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali as a midfield alternative and could pivot to other targets if negotiations with Forest stall. The club’s need to reinforce in the middle of the park has been sharpened by Bernardo Silva’s departure, with uncertainty also surrounding Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez, and Mateo Kovacic.

Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle for £35m in 2024 and has since established himself as one of the Premier League’s most coveted midfielders, earning a regular place in the England squad in the process.