Manchester City have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the 23-year-old reportedly favouring a move to the Etihad Stadium over a switch to Manchester United. The England international, valued in excess of £120 million, is expected to depart the City Ground this summer after two stellar seasons in the Premier League.
Anderson's Preference Clear
According to BBC Sport, Anderson's preference is to join City, even though the club currently lacks a permanent manager. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is in advanced talks to succeed Pep Guardiola, but that has not deterred the player. City are yet to agree a fee with Forest, however, and significant hurdles remain before any deal can be finalised.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are holding firm in their stance that they will not be drawn into a bidding war for the midfielder. The Red Devils have monitored Anderson's progress but are unwilling to meet the £120 million valuation or enter a protracted auction.
Forest's Stance and Pereira's Comments
Forest manager Vitor Pereira has expressed a desire to keep Anderson and teammate Morgan Gibbs-White, who have also been linked with exits. Speaking after the season finale, Pereira said: "I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players. If you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger. We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned; what I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market."
Anderson joined Forest from boyhood club Newcastle United in 2024 for £35 million and has since established himself as one of the league's most dynamic midfielders. His performances have been instrumental in securing Forest's Premier League safety, and a standout role at the upcoming World Cup could further elevate his status and price tag.
Carrick's Praise
Former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick recently praised Anderson after he registered two assists in Forest's 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford. "Yeah, he's done well," Carrick said. "I think he's a big part of their team. I think he offers so much and they've got a really talented team and dangerous team. So they've had a good season to get to the Europa League semi-finals and just fall short. But yeah, you can see obviously he is important part of their team."
The summer transfer window promises to be a busy one for both Manchester clubs, with Anderson's future likely to be a key storyline. For now, City hold the advantage, but much depends on whether they can agree a fee with Forest and finalise their managerial situation.
