Nottingham Forest are standing firm in one of the most compelling transfer sagas of the summer window, continuing to reject major bids from Manchester City for star midfielder Elliot Anderson.
City’s latest approach has already been turned down, despite the Premier League giants increasing their offer to a significant level that would have set a new benchmark.
Forest remain unmoved and are holding out for a record-breaking valuation before even considering allowing the England international to leave the City Ground.
Anderson has been identified as a priority target for City after a breakout 2025/26 campaign in which he established himself as one of the most complete young midfielders in the top flight.
According to reports, Forest have rejected City’s second bid of around £106m, which was structured as a major guaranteed fee with an additional £15m in add-ons.
Even that package, which would have been a club record for City, fell well short of what Forest consider an acceptable offer for their prized asset.
The East Midlands club are now understood to be demanding more than £120m as a fixed fee, refusing to be swayed by add-ons or future incentives, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Manchester United have also monitored developments but are believed to be reluctant to enter a full-scale bidding war at the current figures being demanded by Forest.
Behind the scenes, Forest appear to be making contingency plans, with Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi is back on the Tricky Trees’ agenda after repeated links in January.
Di Marzio reports that Forest have inquired about Frattesi, but the club faces competition from Serie A heavyweights Napoli for the 26-year-old Italian international.
Frattesi made 33 appearances in all competitions for Inter last term, bagging three assists from Anderson’s position in centre midfield, though the vast majority of his minutes came from the substitute’s bench.
Forest’s position is clear and unwavering: they will not be pressured into a sale regardless of the size of the offer put forward by City or any other interested party.
Having already rejected multiple bids, the message from the Forest board is that only an extraordinary, record-level proposal will change their stance on the 23-year-old.
Their valuation reflects both Anderson’s growing importance on the pitch and his considerable long-term potential as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young midfielders.
With United circling in the background and Forest actively exploring contingency options such as Frattesi, this is shaping up to be one of the defining transfer battles of the entire summer window.