Man City weigh walking away from Anderson after £120m Forest bid rejected

Manchester City are weighing whether to abandon their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson after the club had a £121m offer — comprising a £106m base fee and £15m in add-ons — rejected by Forest this summer.

City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is said to believe the proposal was fair and has no appetite to enter a bidding war, according to The Mirror. A final decision on whether to formally withdraw their interest has not yet been made, but the club are understood to be seriously considering walking away.

Had the deal been agreed, the total fee would have surpassed the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023 — at the time a British transfer record.

Anderson, 23, is currently in the United States with the England squad for the World Cup in North America, leaving his club future unresolved during the tournament.

Manchester United had also registered interest in the former Newcastle midfielder as they seek midfield reinforcements ahead of their return to the Champions League next season. However, United are now understood to be looking at alternative targets, with the £120m valuation considered beyond their reach. Anderson is also reported to prefer a move to the Etihad Stadium over Old Trafford.

United have already moved to address their midfield needs elsewhere, agreeing a deal to sign Atalanta’s Ederson for an initial £35m plus £3.8m in add-ons.

Forest’s refusal to sell Anderson at City’s valuation leaves the England international’s future in the balance, with no indication yet that the Midlands club intend to lower their asking price.