Manchester City’s chase for Elliot Anderson is no longer about speed. Their second bid, worth £120m in total with £106m up front and £14m in add-ons, has already been rejected, and Nottingham Forest are holding out for a bigger package while the midfielder stays under contract at the City Ground until the summer of 2029.

Why City are still pressing

That kind of rejection does not usually stop elite clubs, and City are clearly not treating this as a one-and-done offer. Anderson’s recent form helps explain why. He has back-to-back 7.2 Premier League ratings, then followed that with a 9.0 against Manchester United, a match in which he played 98 minutes and delivered 2 assists.

He has also played 415 minutes across his last five league matches, so this is not a player being eased out of the picture while transfer talk swirls around him. That matters. City are not chasing a bench option. They are chasing a midfielder who is still central to Forest’s week-to-week plans.

Thomas Tuchel’s public praise has only sharpened the sense that Anderson is being viewed as a top-end target. Tuchel said: “He's a top player. There's nothing more to say, he's the full package.”

Forest's price and the market around it

Forest’s stance is the simpler part of this. They want a larger up-front fee and are holding firm on a bigger package. There is also a wider market argument behind it, with Forest believing the £100m-plus fees for Declan Rice, Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo have reset the scale for players at this level.

The one figure being used as a benchmark is Alexander Isak's £125m British transfer record marker. Forest's reported ask sits above that in one set of reports, while another line has their demand at £130m. What is not in doubt is the direction of travel. Anderson cost Forest £35m when he joined from Newcastle in 2024, and his value has risen fast enough that City are already weighing whether to go again.

England’s schedule adds awkward timing. They beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up, and their opener against Croatia is on Wednesday. That makes a quick resolution less likely, which suits Forest more than it suits City. If City really want Anderson, they may have to wait for the selling club to blink first.

FAQ

Why is Manchester City pursuing Elliot Anderson so strongly?

City have already had a £120m bid rejected, and Anderson’s recent club form keeps the pressure on. He has back-to-back 7.2 Premier League ratings, a 9.0 against Manchester United with 2 assists, and 415 minutes across his last five league matches.

Will Nottingham Forest sell Elliot Anderson this summer?

Forest are not moving easily. They want a larger up-front fee, are holding out for a bigger package, and Anderson is under contract at the City Ground until the summer of 2029.

What did Thomas Tuchel say about Elliot Anderson?

Tuchel called Anderson 'a top player' and said, 'he's the full package.' That kind of public praise only adds to the sense that City are chasing a midfielder viewed as ready for a step up.

Is Elliot Anderson close to joining Manchester City?

Not yet. City’s second bid was worth £120m in total, with £106m up front and £14m in add-ons, but Forest want more up front and the timing is complicated by England’s World Cup opener on Wednesday.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →