Manchester City’s Opening Bid For Elliot Anderson Rejected By Nottingham Forest

Manchester City have had an opening bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected, with Forest holding out for a fee that could eclipse £100m for the 23-year-old England international.

The Telegraph said Evangelos Marinakis is using the record £115m Chelsea paid Brighton for Moisés Caicedo in August 2023 as a benchmark, while it also noted Anderson is in West Palm Beach, Florida, with the England squad as they prepare for the World Cup.

BBC

The BBC reported that City have now formalised interest with their first bid rebuffed, and it said there is a growing expectation Anderson will leave the City Ground this summer.

talkSPORT said a second bid to prise Anderson away from Forest is expected, and it placed Anderson’s World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17 as City and United weigh their next moves.

The New York Times added that Forest have rejected the bid but City’s pursuit remains ongoing, and it said Anderson has three years remaining on his contract.

David Ornstein, as cited by Football365, said City’s ‘opening offer’ for Anderson was rejected by Nottingham Forest, and it added that City’s pursuit remains ongoing after club chiefs met in Budapest last week.

Football365 also said Evangelos Marinakis and City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke at UEFA’s Champions League dinner in Budapest last Thursday, while noting there is no suggestion they negotiated on Anderson.

BBC

The Mirror framed the situation around Forest’s stance that they would only consider offers of over £100m, and it said Old Trafford chiefs are not willing to meet the asking price of around £100m.

talkSPORT reported that Anderson favours a move to the Etihad, and it said Forest believe Anderson is worth as much as the £105m Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023.

The London Evening Standard said a potential fee for Anderson could eclipse the £100million mark and place him in similar category to Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, with City’s first bid knocked back by Forest.

Anderson is preparing for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, and the BBC said he has been selected in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup while club-to-club talks can continue.

talkSPORT said City were hopeful of completing a deal before the World Cup, and it tied Anderson’s availability to England’s opening match against Croatia on June 17.

The Telegraph said Anderson’s club future is set to be a topic heading into the tournament, and it noted City’s efforts to land him followed the departure of Bernardo Silva while Rodri has one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

The New York Times reported that any move to City would add to summer change at the Etihad Stadium with Pep Guardiola departing as manager after 10 years, and it said John Stones and Bernardo Silva also leaving.

Meanwhile, The Athletic-linked reporting in Football365 said Manchester United have been targeting Anderson but other midfield targets have been seen as more credible, and it quoted Ornstein on Tuesday that United reached agreement with Atalanta to sign Ederson for €40.5m fixed plus €4.5m of potential bonuses on a 4+1yr deal.