Man City agree club record fee for Elliot Anderson

Manchester City have agreed a club record fee to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

The England midfielder is expected to become City’s biggest ever signing after Forest, who had rejected a previous bid of £106m, rising to £120m, accepted a nine-figure offer, thought to be £116m.

It is understood it is a straight offer with no add-ons and is below the British transfer record, Alexander Isak’s £125m move from Newcastle to Liverpool last summer.

Manchester United were also interested in Anderson but City showed a willingness to meet Forest’s huge asking price.

City made Anderson their top target in their midfield rebuild after captain Bernardo Silva left the Etihad Stadium, with the Portuguese joining Real Madrid.

City are also considering bringing in a second central midfielder this summer, with Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali also of interest to them.

Anderson is currently in the United States as part of the England squad in the World Cup, leaving a question of when and where his medical will take place and the deal is completed.

When the 23-year-old joins City, it will take their spending in 2025 and 2026 to around £550m. City’s current club record buy is Jack Grealish, who signed for £100m in 2021.

Anderson joined Forest for £35m two years ago and will give the Midlands club a vast profit on their investment.

City are closing in on the appointment of Enzo Maresca to replace Pep Guardiola as manager after talks with Chelsea about compensation for the Italian.