Manchester City are plotting a £75m raid on Nottingham Forest for England star Elliot Anderson, but face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali battles with Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali battles with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson
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Manchester City are reportedly planning a £75m swoop for Nottingham Forest's rising star Elliot Anderson. However, City manager Pep Guardiola is anticipated to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea. Guardiola has been closely monitoring Anderson's progress and has become a significant admirer of the England international.
Guardiola has earmarked former Newcastle United midfielder Anderson as a key transfer target, should he decide to bolster his midfield next summer. Nico Gonzalez has struggled to make his mark at the Etihad, while questions linger over Rodri's long-term future.
The Ballon d'Or winner is on Real Madrid's radar, and might be enticed to join the Spanish heavyweights if he fails to agree on a new contract with City.
Anderson won't be lacking in suitors next summer, with Chelsea also eager to tempt him to Stamford Bridge. He transferred to Forest in a £35m deal from Newcastle in 2024 and has since emerged as one of the Premier League's brightest prospects, reports the Mirror.
His development was acknowledged by Thomas Tuchel, who gave him his first England call-up in August. Since then, the 22 year old has earned three caps and secured a place in Tuchel's team.
He is expected to be named in Tuchel's final squad for the World Cup in North America next summer. If he returns from the finals having proven himself on the world's biggest stage, his value is predicted to skyrocket.
Should City decide to make a move for Anderson, club bosses would look to do a deal with Forest before the tournament begins.
While Anderson would be keen to avoid going to the tournament with speculation about his future hanging over him.
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Newcastle have continued to monitor Anderson's progress, but do not have any buy-back nor sell-on percentage clause after the deal was concluded swiftly in 2024 so United would avoid falling foul of PSR rules.
Speaking ahead of Anderson's return to St James' Park with Forest earlier this month, head coach Eddie Howe admitted to have been a wrench to see him leave, in a deal that was purely financial.
"It certainly was a rushed deal," Howe admitted. "We were on the clock and trying to explore every avenue to find another way to avoid a points deduction.
"In terms of buy back clauses, we were not in a good bargaining position at all. So our strength to negotiate those sort of things was non-existent.
"It didn't sit right with me then, doesn't sit right with me today that we as a football club were forced to make a decision that we didn't want to make, and a player that had given everything to rise through the ranks here to try to play for Newcastle, that was ended by financial restrictions.
"But it's happened and we wish Elliot nothing but success. It's nothing at all to do with him, it's to do with the restrictions we were under."