Nottingham Forest sold Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for £116 million
Nottingham Forest sold Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for £116 million(Image: Getty)
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Nottingham Forest selling Elliot Anderson to Manchester City looked like great business in the summer, and it has all the making of being an even better deal now.
Two years after the midfielder had put pen to paper Trentside, the Reds made a huge profit when he switched to the Etihad Stadium. Bought from Newcastle United for a net £15m in 2024, Anderson went for a whopping £116 million this time around.
Forest would love to have kept hold of the England international, of course, but the blow of losing him was softened by the expert negotiating skills of owner Evangelos Marinakis. The Greek businessman struck a deal for the Reds to receive a flat up-front fee for the 23-year-old.
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In light of recent developments, Forest might well be glad he did. After all, it remains to be seen what fate awaits City now they have reportedly been found guilty of breaching financial rules.
City are said to have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023. Sanctions are yet to be determined but the club could face a substantial fine, a points deduction or even expulsion from the top flight.
Reds fans have joked Anderson returning to the City Ground on the cheap could be a possibility. Here is a look at what they have been saying on social media…
@wayne1982164: We buy back Anderson for 30m city? What do you say? #nffc
@nffc_jezza: Waiting for the inevitable “Anderson deal invalidated, player to return to forest” tweet feel like he would improve OG’s starting 11 #nffc
@pdallisonesque: There's only appropriate punishment ... make them give back Elliot Anderson for nothing #nffc
@Caden434: It would be so funny if Anderson ends back at forest #NFFC
@NickMMiles: Have we hit a buy back clause with Anderson? #nffc
@rob_johnstoneuk: When City are relegated I reckon we could get Anderson back on loan! #NFFC
@30ydscreameruk: Do #nffc have a £5m buy back clause on Anderson, just asking?
@robboisagenius: I’m sure Mr M would have secured a free loan back for Elliot Anderson in such circumstances #nffc
@MaximoNewton: Wonder if this is why Marinakis want all the Ando money in cash up fron and no add ons? What an owner. #nffc
@ianred7980: @ManCity we’ll give you £15m to take Anderson back. He’s not made for a lower league club #nffc
@SilverFox_2023: Every player transfered to City during that time should return back to the selling club with contracts covered by City until the player is resold or contracts run out.
@CJ93NFFC: The Anderson transfer should be reversed with no refund. It’s the only logical punishment. #NFFC
@callum_nffc28: Well go get Anderson back for 20 million forest since city are going down #nffc #mcfc cheers for the money boys
@sunbeam007: Imagine being an owner who was smart enough to get all £116m paid upfront. #nffc #mcfc
@gareth_youreds: Can we have Elliot Anderson back when they get thrown in the North West Counties League? (I wish!) #NFFC
It was February 2023 when the Premier League accused City of breaching its financial regulations across a nine-year spell between 2009 and 2018. The club were additionally charged with failing to cooperate with top-flight investigations into their financial affairs.
City have always denied any wrongdoing and are expected to lodge an appeal against their guilty verdict. The Premier League are yet to make an official announcement regarding the decision.
A City statement read: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023.
"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
Does the Anderson sale look an even better deal for Forest now? Click HERE to have your say
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Nottingham Forest reporter Sarah Clapson
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