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Manchester City is set to make a second offer for midfielder Elliot Anderson in the coming days.
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Nottingham Forest is seeking more than £105 million, aiming ideally for around £110 million.
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Anderson is considered vital to Enzo Maresca’s plans for the upcoming season.
Manchester City is poised to submit an improved bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson shortly, with Forest targeting over £105 million for a player viewed as integral to new manager Enzo Maresca’s strategy.
City’s initial offer was turned down by Forest last week, as the club stands firm on a valuation significantly higher than City’s first proposal for the 23-year-old England international.
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The Blues remain optimistic, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that City will strive to finalize a deal soon, and Anderson has been granted permission to undergo a medical for Manchester City during the FIFA World Cup with approval from Thomas Tuchel.
Manchester City is facing a threat of Manchester United hijacking the transfer in pursuit of Elliot Anderson.
The situation has become more complicated as Manchester United has emerged as a potential rival, with the Old Trafford side believed to be hopeful of beating City to the signing of the former Newcastle United midfielder.
Report: City to submit enhanced bid for Anderson
According to Mail Sport’s Tom Collomosse, Manchester City plans to present a second offer for Anderson in the days ahead, with Nottingham Forest targeting a fee exceeding £105 million and hoping to secure as much as £110 million for the midfielder.
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Anderson is seen as crucial to Enzo Maresca’s strategies at the Etihad Stadium for the 2026-27 season. Forest has been looking at the £105 million fee paid by Arsenal for West Ham‘s Declan Rice in 2023 as a negotiating benchmark, with City’s first offer being notably below that mark.
While there’s a considerable difference between the two clubs’ valuations, City’s intention to submit a better bid indicates their commitment to finalizing the deal before the transfer window advances.
What is the broader context of City’s pursuit?
Anderson has been a focal target for City’s midfield for nearly a year, with the football director Hugo Viana identifying the box-to-box midfielder as the perfect fit to fill the gap left by Bernardo Silva’s exit and to give Maresca a dynamic presence in the midfield.
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Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United has been looked at as an alternative, should the pursuit of Anderson become impractical. However, the new manager’s clear preference for Anderson means City will make every effort to finalize the deal before exploring other options in that role.