Nottingham Forest have declined a second offer from Manchester City for midfielder Elliot Anderson. The bid was valued at £122m, comprising a guaranteed £106m and an additional £16m in potential add-ons. Forest’s ownership is reportedly seeking a basic transfer fee of £125m, which would establish a new British record, surpassing the £125m paid by Liverpool to Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.
This latest offer from Manchester City follows an initial bid of £80m for the 23-year-old England international, which was also rejected. Should the £122m bid have been accepted, it would have exceeded City’s previous club record transfer of £100m for Jack Grealish in August 2021.
Transfer Dynamics and World Cup Impact
The timing of City’s second bid, made eight days before England‘s opening World Cup match against Croatia, suggests an attempt to minimise disruption for Anderson and the national team. England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to include Anderson in the starting lineup for the upcoming match on Wednesday. Tuchel has expressed a desire for any potential player movements during the tournament to be handled in an orderly manner.
Hugo Viana, City’s director of football, may now prepare a third offer for Anderson by the end of the week, following the rejection of the current bid. Anderson has been named in Tuchel’s World Cup squad and has been assigned the No. 8 shirt for the tournament.
Anderson has a contract with Nottingham Forest that extends for three more years. He joined the club from Newcastle United. He made his England debut last September and has since maintained a crucial role within the squad.
Manchester United had previously shown interest in Anderson and were reportedly keen to outbid their city rivals. However, with the transfer fee now at a high level, it remains uncertain whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s football chief, will approve a further attempt to secure the player. Reports indicate that United may be concluding their pursuit of Anderson, choosing not to engage in a bidding war. Instead, United are said to be focusing on other midfield targets, including Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Alex Scott from Bournemouth.
Anderson’s Role and City’s Strategy
City’s interest in Anderson is attributed to his profile as a top English talent, which aligns with homegrown player regulations and his proven performance in the Premier League. He is viewed as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva. Anderson’s involvement and influence on the field are highlighted by his high number of touches in the Premier League last season, despite playing for a team not known for extensive possession.
The midfielder also demonstrated his quality with a goal against City in a 2-2 draw in March. City’s strategy involves targeting players who can immediately integrate into the first team, particularly after the departure of established stars. Anderson is believed to meet these criteria, ticking many of the boxes City looks for in a new signing.
The current offer of £106m upfront, with potential add-ons reaching over £120m, reflects the significant valuation placed on Anderson. Forest’s demand for a fixed fee to surpass the £125m British record underscores their stance on the transfer. The situation remains fluid as the World Cup approaches, with England’s first match against Croatia scheduled for Wednesday.
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Source: theguardian.com
