Manchester City are positioning themselves for a major summer investment as they explore a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, a player increasingly viewed as one of the Premier League’s most complete young talents.
Sources suggest the Sky Blues are ready to test Forest’s resolve with an offer that could rise close to £100m, underlining the scale of their admiration for the 23-year-old.
Anderson has enjoyed a rapid rise since leaving Newcastle United in 2024 for a fee of £35m. What initially appeared an ambitious price now looks shrewd business by Forest, with the midfielder becoming central to their fight for top-flight survival.
His blend of relentless energy, technical assurance and tactical awareness has drawn attention from across the division, but it is City who appear most determined to act.
Recruitment figures at the Etihad believe Anderson fits the profile of the modern City midfielder: comfortable receiving under pressure, capable of covering large distances and disciplined enough to operate in multiple roles.
Those qualities have prompted early conversations with his representatives as the club seek to move ahead of potential rivals before the summer window gathers pace.
Pep Guardiola is understood to be a long-time admirer. The Catalan values players who can interpret space instinctively and contribute to the team’s possession rhythm, and Anderson’s performances this season have suggested he could adapt quickly to those demands.
A senior figure close to the City set-up described the England international as “tailor-made” for their style and a perfect replacement for Bernardo Silva.
Yet any transfer planning is unfolding against the uncertain backdrop of Guardiola’s future. His current deal expires in 2027, but there remains widespread speculation that this season could mark the end of his reign.
Influential voices around the game continue to insist it is ‘highly likely’ he steps aside at the end of the campaign, prompting City to consider how their squad would evolve under a new coach.
The identity of that successor could prove significant for Anderson’s decision. Those close to the player say he is ‘excited’ by the prospect of joining City even if Guardiola departs, provided the club appoints one of the elite managers currently under consideration.
The continuity of philosophy rather than the individual in charge appears to be the key factor.
Meanwhile, City’s hierarchy have spent more than a decade constructing a structure designed to outlast any single manager.
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The recruitment of Anderson is viewed as part of that long-term strategy rather than a short-term fix.
Manchester United had also tracked the player, identifying him as a possible answer to their own midfield questions.
However, attention at Old Trafford has recently shifted towards alternatives such as Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
That change of direction has cleared the path for City to pursue their target with less resistance.
Forest are expected to resist any approach, particularly with their Premier League status still uncertain. Survival would strengthen their negotiating position, yet the figures being discussed may prove impossible to ignore.
An offer approaching nine figures would represent one of the largest sales in the club’s history.
