Even when Bernardo Silva's Manchester City future was uncertain, the club had already begun formulating plans to sign Elliot Anderson. After joining Nottingham Forest to help his boyhood club Newcastle avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions, it quickly became evident that the Magpies had made a miscalculation.
A Rising Star at Nottingham Forest
Following a promising debut season at the City Ground, the self-described 'miserable and boring' Anderson truly blossomed in the 2025/26 campaign. He made 50 appearances for Forest and became a pivotal figure in the East Midlands club's battle for Premier League survival. His performances caught the eye of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, and Anderson is now in line to make his first appearance at a major international tournament.
Back home, he has ignited a transfer war between Manchester City and Manchester United, a battle the Blues are confident of winning. After a season of highs and lows both on and off the pitch, Anderson is poised to become the latest English player to be sold for a substantial fee.
Insight from the Nottingham Post
Speaking to MEN Sport, Nottingham Post's Forest Correspondent Sarah Clapson praised Anderson's impressive trajectory. "When he arrived, not much was known about him among Forest fans," she admitted. "He was viewed as a bright talent by Newcastle, and I think it has been clear since that they very much did not want to let him go."
"But the vast majority of Forest fans did not know what he was about or what to expect. He played a bit for Newcastle but wasn't a regular starter. So he was kind of an unknown really."
"He was a very understated signing. It went through because Newcastle needed to sell to comply with financial rules. Forest had a goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos, go in the opposite direction, so it was a transfer you didn't expect to snowball in the way it has."
A Bargain at £35m
Once Anderson took to the field for his new club, it soon became apparent that at £35 million, Forest had secured a bargain. "You could see that Forest had signed a really good player when he came in," Clapson continued. "He obviously had something about him. He had quality, and you could see he was a really good prospect. The past season is where he has come on hugely."
"He has established himself with England, as well as becoming a mainstay in the Forest team. You could see he was a good player in that first season, but this last year in particular he has really stood up."
"You can see he is a special talent, and he has grown as a player and as a person. He has really become settled into his way of playing and into what is expected of him."
"He has come out of his shell more than when he first arrived. He has really established himself, and you can see he still has room to grow, improve, and develop, but he is already a really special talent."
Personal Tragedy and Resilience
In April, tragedy struck for Anderson away from the pitch as his mother Helen passed away following an illness. Upon his return, he scored in a 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland and netted again, just 48 hours after his mother's funeral, to secure a precious point against Newcastle.
His manager Vitor Pereira said Anderson wanted to honour his mother with a goal, and Clapson believes the ordeal showcased his character. "He has had a lot of personal things to deal with as well with his mum," she said. "It shows his strength of mentality, and it's not just what he's like as a player, but what he's like as a person in the dressing room and the standards he sets."
Managerial Upheaval at Forest
On the football front, Anderson had plenty of upheaval to contend with. Nuno Espirito Santo led Forest into the season before being replaced by Ange Postecoglou in September. The Australian lasted one month before being sacked, and Sean Dyche took charge. Dyche only lasted until February before Pereira was appointed and saw out the season.
Despite all this, Anderson kept performing. "Forest have had a lot of upheaval and managerial change, which has been tricky for some players, but Anderson just gets on with it. He takes everything in his stride," Clapson explained. "He goes out there, does what he does, and is very good at it. That shows because there is a lot of interest in him this summer for very good reason. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this past season, and quite rightly Forest know his value, know what he is worth, and know how important he is and what his potential is."
Valuation and Potential Transfer
Clapson believes Forest are using Declan Rice's £100 million transfer from West Ham to Arsenal as a benchmark for their valuation. "I think £100 million is probably the baseline, and then Forest know, if he has a good World Cup with England, his value will only increase because he will have shown what he is capable of on a world stage," she added. "Forest hold all the cards at the minute. He is under contract, and they aren't under pressure to sell. They can sit back, and if he has a good World Cup, his value will go up even more, and they can negotiate an even better deal."
City's Interest and the Bernardo Silva Comparison
If Anderson were to join City, he would be expected to replace Bernardo Silva immediately. While that may seem like an impossible task, Clapson has full confidence he can do it. "He is more than capable of stepping into that position and probably relishing it. When you watch him, one of the things that is really noticeable is that he is constantly demanding the ball. He is always there with his arms outstretched, wanting to be passed to, to find him and give him the ball to do something. More often than not, he does."
"He is always looking to progress the play, always looking to find a teammate to get the team on the front foot and get Forest going forward. He always wants to be in the thick of things, and I think that will be the same wherever he goes, whatever he does."
And whatever he does next seems unlikely to be in Nottingham. When City set their minds on a player, they very rarely miss out. "He is very quiet, very unassuming, he doesn't give a lot away whenever he speaks to the media. I imagine in the dressing room he is probably similar," Clapson concluded. "He is a placid character in that sense, but he wants to win; he is a winner. Forest would love to keep him. Ideally, they want to keep the core of their squad together, and he is a really important part of that. But if somebody puts a lot of money on the table, that can give any club a decision to make."
