Nottingham Forest’s determination to get mega money for Elliot Anderson is becoming one of the biggest stories of the summer transfer window, with Man City continuing their pursuit of the England international.
The Premier League runners-up have made no secret of their admiration for Anderson following his outstanding 2025/26 campaign.
The midfielder established himself as one of the division’s most complete young players last season, combining energy, creativity and tactical intelligence to help Forest avoid relegation under Vitor Pereira.
His performances inevitably attracted attention from some of the country’s biggest clubs.
City quickly emerged as one of the strongest contenders for his signature.
Anderson’s versatility and ability to operate in several midfield roles make him exactly the type of player City have targeted successfully in the past.
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Talks between the clubs have been ongoing for some time.
City’s initial approach was rejected by Forest, who immediately made it clear that they had little interest in parting ways with one of their most valuable assets for anything less than a mammoth fee.
Rather than encouraging the Sky Blues to walk away, that rejection simply reinforced City’s determination to continue pushing for a deal.
Nottingham Forest hold talks to sign relegated defender who wants to leave Wolves
He looks set to be on the move this summer.
For Forest supporters, the growing transfer saga is hardly surprising.
Anderson has developed into one of the most important players at the City Ground and many fans view him as a cornerstone of the club’s long-term future.
Losing him would represent a huge blow, regardless of the size of the transfer fee involved, but Evangelos Marinakis and co are looking to get every penny they can out of City.
Now, Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the fee they’re looking for.
Forest make Elliot Anderson price clear after rejecting second Man City bid
According to the transfer expert, City have returned with a second offer after seeing their first bid rejected.
The new proposal is reported to be worth £106 million as a guaranteed fee, with a further £15 million available in potential add-ons.
On paper, that would already rank among the largest transfers in Premier League history, not to mention a club record for City.
However, Forest are standing firm.
Romano reports that the club want more than £120 million as a fixed fee before they would even consider allowing Anderson to leave.
In other words, Forest are not interested in complicated structures or bonus-related payments making up a significant portion of the package.
They want a record-breaking guaranteed offer.
That stance highlights just how highly Anderson is valued behind the scenes.
The midfielder is still approaching the peak years of his career and has already demonstrated he can perform consistently at the highest level.
His value extends beyond what he contributes on the pitch, with his age, homegrown status and long-term potential all strengthening their negotiating position.
City now face a difficult decision.
They can either continue increasing their offer or explore alternative midfield options like Tonali.
For the moment, though, Anderson remains the priority.
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