Manchester City have made a second bid for Elliot Anderson (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City are considering walking away from a proposed deal to sign England star Elliot Anderson. City have had a second bid of £120million for Anderson turned down by Nottingham Forest. It is understood the proposal comprised £100m plus £20m in add-ons, contingent on Anderson’s performances at the Etihad. However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is holding firm, demanding the full fee be paid upfront.
City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has no intention of being drawn into a bidding war over the 23-year-old midfielder. Al-Mubarak is of the view that City’s offer is a reasonable one for a player who still has much to prove — and who has yet to feature in the Champions League.
The bid would see Anderson become the most expensive Englishman in football history, surpassing his Three Lions team-mates Jude Bellingham (£115m to Real Madrid) and Declan Rice (£105m to Arsenal).
The City chief has demonstrated previously that he is willing to walk away from negotiations and seek alternatives if he feels the club is being held to ransom — as was the case when Liverpool signed Virgil Van Dijk in 2018.
City have been pursuing Anderson for a number of months and remain eager to bring him to the Etihad, but only on their own terms. Anderson, currently on World Cup duty with England, has made no secret of his desire to join City ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea.
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Anderson moved to Forest from Newcastle for £35m in 2024 and has since established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in English football. Incoming City manager Enzo Maresca is keen to strengthen his midfield options following the exit of Bernardo Silva.
Anderson is also regarded as a long-term successor to Rodri, who has been linked with a move back to Spain before his career ends.
Anderson is currently on international duty with England and wholly focused on the World Cup, where he is expected to start against Croatia next week. England boss Thomas Tuchel has no concerns about Anderson losing his concentration despite his club future remaining unresolved.
Elliot Anderson is currently at the World Cup withEngland (Image: Getty Images)
“He’s a top player. There’s nothing more to say, he’s the full package. I’m happy that he’s with us on that kind of level and he’s a key player for us,” the England boss said after the 3-0 win over Costa Rica.
“The bid? No comment! He seems not affected. It was an amazing performance against Costa Rica, he’s fine.
“I won’t speak to him about it. My assistant coach spoke with him about it but I won’t. It should push him because it’s proof of what he’s capable to do and what level he can perform. At the moment it seems like a push for him.
“Even if a transfer is completed, hopefully he stays the same person. Nothing will change overnight with him if he wakes up, he’s not a new player.
“People will try to hang around his neck this price but in reality nothing changes. He just changes the club, that’s the rules of the game. Hopefully he just stays the same – a humble, determined, hungry football player. Absolutely, he is very level-headed.
“I hope it boosts his confidence (if it happens). I don’t want to go into it too much if it’s a boost or not a boost – what I see on the training pitch is no distractions, full commitment, that’s what comes from him.”
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