Man City ahead of Man Utd in race for Anderson

Manchester City currently holds the advantage in the pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who appears to be favoring a transfer to the Etihad Stadium over a move to Manchester United.

There is an increasing likelihood that Anderson will depart from the City Ground this summer.

Manchester United has expressed reluctance to exceed financial limits or engage in prolonged contract negotiations.

As of now, no agreement has been reached between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, and significant discrepancies exist in the clubs' valuations of the 23-year-old, indicating that developments could still unfold.

If a transaction proceeds, it has the potential to set a new record for a British player, surpassing the £105m Arsenal allocated to West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023.

The sentiment at Forest suggests that if a notable sale is to occur this summer, it is likely to involve Anderson, especially if his performance at the World Cup with England strengthens their negotiating position.

After the recent 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, Forest manager Vitor Pereira praised both Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White, stating they deserve "the top of the world."

While Pereira would prefer to retain both athletes, Anderson appears to be the more probable candidate to exit, particularly in light of Forest's failure to secure European football next season after finishing 16th in the Premier League.

"I believe if we want to compete for different goals, we need to keep the best players," Pereira stated. "If not, if you change every season, it is difficult to be consistent and difficult to build something stronger. We cannot control the market, of course, but I think we are aligned; what I think and what the club thinks is to try to keep most of them and to try to control the market."

Anderson, who celebrated victory in the 2025 European U21 Championship with England last summer, transferred to Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m. He has made 92 appearances for the club, netting six goals.

The match against Bournemouth marked his 50th appearance of the season, and he received a standing ovation upon his substitution in the second half.