Man City Ready to Pay £130M for Elliot Anderson as Forest Talks Resume

Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are circling back to the negotiating table, this time with a record-shattering £130 million price tag attached to Elliot Anderson. That’s according to the Daily Mail, which reports that City have scheduled another round of talks after their initial £120 million offer was turned down.

If this deal goes through, it would blow past the current British transfer record — the £125 million Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak when he left Newcastle last summer. That’s a staggering number for any player, let alone a midfielder who’s been at Forest for just a few seasons. But Anderson has been that good.

Why City is pushing so hard

City haven’t won the Premier League in two straight years. On top of that, legendary manager Pep Guardiola is leaving at the end of this season. So the club is clearly looking to make a statement. A signing like Anderson — world-class, 23 years old, already a key figure for England — would send a message that they’re not going anywhere.

Rodri isn’t getting any younger and his injury problems have become a real concern. Anderson, who plays a similar midfield role, looks like the long-term replacement City needs. And they’re willing to pay whatever it takes.

The World Cup complication (and how Tuchel is handling it)

Anderson is currently at the 2026 World Cup with England. That usually complicates a transfer — medicals, contract signings, all that stuff. But according to journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the Latte Firm podcast, England manager Thomas Tuchel has no problem with his players doing medicals while on international duty. That’s good news for Arsenal too, who are chasing Morgan Rogers, but it also clears a path for City to get Anderson signed during the tournament.

Manchester United had been in the mix for Anderson as well, according to reports. But City look like they’ve pulled ahead. If they can finalize this deal, it’ll be the most expensive transfer in British football history.

One thing worth noting: none of this is done yet. Forest have played hardball so far, and £130 million is a lot of money even for City. But the fact that both sides are still talking suggests something is close.