Nottingham Forest reject Manchester City’s £122m bid for Elliot Anderson

By Kwame Ofori — 10 June 2026 — 3 min read

Forest rejects second bid for Anderson

Nottingham Forest has turned down a second offer from Manchester City for midfielder Elliot Anderson. The latest bid from Manchester City was valued at £122m, comprising a guaranteed £106m and an additional £16m in potential add-ons. This follows an initial offer of £80m for the England international. Forest is reportedly seeking a basic transfer fee of £125m, which would set a new British record, before any add-ons are considered.

The requested £125m fee would surpass the £125m that Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer, which currently stands as the highest fee paid by a British club. Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Forest, is understood to be keen on this valuation for Anderson.

Anderson’s role and World Cup preparations

Elliot Anderson, who is 23 years old, is a crucial part of England‘s squad for the upcoming World Cup. He is expected to start in England’s opening match against Croatia on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, is aware that players might need to finalise potential transfers during the tournament but prefers these matters to be handled in an organised manner to avoid disrupting the team’s focus.

Manchester City‘s director of football, Hugo Viana, reportedly submitted the second bid for Anderson eight days before the Croatia game. This timing was possibly intended to minimise disruption for both the player and the England squad. With this offer now rejected, Viana may consider making a third, and potentially final, offer by the end of the week.

Anderson has three years remaining on his current contract, which he signed after joining Forest from Newcastle United in the summer of 2023. That deal, which involved Odysseas Vlachodimos moving in the opposite direction, valued Anderson at £15m. During the 2025-26 Premier League season, he featured in all 38 of Forest’s matches, scoring four goals and providing four assists.

Interest from other clubs and Anderson’s impact

Manchester United has also shown interest in Anderson, but reports suggest they may not be able to compete at the current financial levels. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United‘s football chief, will need to decide whether to pursue an offer that could outbid City given the high transfer fee now being discussed. It is understood that United might end their pursuit of the midfielder.

Manchester United is reportedly unwilling to engage in a bidding war and is instead focusing on other targets, such as West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. In recent years, midfielders like Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez have been transferred for fees around £100m or more.

Manchester City‘s interest in Anderson stems from their strategy to acquire top English talent, partly due to homegrown player regulations and the proven track record of such players in the Premier League. Anderson is seen as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva. He recorded more touches than any other player in the Premier League last season, demonstrating his involvement and influence even in a team like Forest that does not dominate possession.

His performance, including a goal against City in a 2-2 draw in March, highlights his quality. City aims to recruit a top talent capable of immediately impacting the first team, and Anderson appears to fit this profile. He made his England debut last September and has remained a key player for the national side, earning the No. 8 shirt for the upcoming World Cup tournament.

Source: theguardian.com