theglobalsun – Elliot Anderson Favors Etihad Move as Transfer Interest Grows. Manchester City have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the England international reportedly favoring a move to the Etihad Stadium over Manchester United.
The 23-year-old has attracted significant interest following another impressive season at Nottingham Forest. There is a growing belief within football circles that Anderson could leave the City Ground during the summer transfer window.
While Manchester United remain interested in the midfielder, the club are reluctant to become involved in lengthy negotiations or pay significantly above their valuation. That approach has allowed Manchester City to move into a stronger position.
No agreement has yet been reached between Forest and City. Reports suggest the two clubs remain some distance apart regarding the player’s valuation, meaning negotiations could still take time to resolve.
The potential transfer could become one of the biggest deals involving a British player. Some estimates suggest the fee could surpass the £105 million Arsenal paid West Ham United for Declan Rice in 2023.
Nottingham Forest are believed to view Anderson as the most likely candidate for a major transfer if the club sanctions a significant sale this summer. His market value has risen considerably since joining the club.
A strong World Cup campaign with England could increase that value even further. Forest would likely be in a stronger negotiating position if the midfielder performs well on the international stage.
Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 in a deal worth £35 million. Since arriving, he has developed into one of the club’s most important midfield players.
The England international has made 92 appearances for Forest and scored six goals. His performances have earned praise for both his technical quality and work rate.
Vitor Pereira Wants Forest to Keep Their Best Players
Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira has openly expressed his desire to retain Anderson despite growing transfer speculation. The Portuguese coach believes keeping key players is essential for the club’s long-term progress.
Following the draw against Bournemouth, Pereira praised both Anderson and teammate Morgan Gibbs-White. He suggested that players of their quality deserve opportunities at the highest level.
Pereira acknowledged the difficulties clubs face in retaining top talent when larger teams enter the market. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of maintaining squad continuity.
“I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players,” Pereira said after the Bournemouth match.
The Forest manager explained that constant squad turnover makes long-term progress difficult to achieve. Building a successful team often requires stability and continuity across several seasons.
“If not, if you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger,” he added.
Pereira also admitted that clubs cannot completely control transfer activity during the market. However, he insisted that both the coaching staff and club leadership share the same objective. “We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned,” Pereira said. “What I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market.”
Read More : Leicester Midfielder El Khannouss Joins Stuttgart
Anderson’s rise has been impressive since arriving from Newcastle. He also enjoyed international success by helping England win the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
