Manchester City are escalating pressure on Nottingham Forest for 23-year-old midfielder Elliot Anderson. After an initial £80m bid, City have raised their offer to £106m plus £16m in add-ons. The current British player record stands at £105m, which Arsenal paid West Ham in 2023 for Declan Rice, Anderson's England teammate.
Forest chairman Evangelos Marinakis is believed to want at least £125m (the sum Newcastle paid Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer). City appear willing to escalate further. They are, in poker terms, pot committed to a deal.
Anderson endured a gruelling club season at Forest — marked by four managerial changes — but finished on the right side of the relegation line. Despite his youth, he has become a first choice in Thomas Tuchel's England squad and is preparing for the 2026 World Cup.
The substantial fee underscores Anderson's potential and City's desire to strengthen their midfield. Rice, acquired in similar fashion, has become a Premier League superstar — Manchester sees a comparable trajectory ahead for the young midfielder.