Transfer news: Manchester City close in on Elliot Anderson in blockbuster £100m deal

Transfer news: Manchester City are leading the race to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in a deal that could exceed £100m this summer. Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur is reporting that City have already struck a verbal agreement with the player on a five-year contract. Transfer insider Nicolo Schira has separately confirmed an agreement in principle between City and Anderson on a contract running until 2031. The club is now working to reach a financial settlement with Nottingham Forest. Manchester United remain in the picture, but City hold a decisive lead.

Transfer news background: Anderson’s rise at the City Ground

Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle United in a £35 million move in 2024 and has since produced an outstanding breakthrough season, with his dynamic box-to-box style, technical ability, and leadership qualities making him one of the most sought-after young talents in English football.

The 23-year-old England international holds a contract at the City Ground running until June 2029, and he is widely expected to feature prominently for Thomas Tuchel’s side at the World Cup this summer. His £35m move from Newcastle two years ago now looks extraordinarily shrewd. Forest now stands to receive a fee that could break the transfer record for a British player.

Transfer news battle: City vs United on and off the pitch

City are accelerating plans and sources state they want to finalize a deal before England depart for the World Cup, which kicks off on 11 June, while personal terms are already agreed in principle on a long-term five-year contract. Manchester City believe their advantage over United is strengthened by the growing turmoil at Old Trafford, and sources have admitted that the calm and stability at the Etihad is likely to be a determining factor in the player’s next move.

What do I think will finally happen in this transfer saga?

Honestly, this one feels closer to done than most transfer sagas ever get at this stage of the window. When a player reaches verbal agreement on a five-year contract before clubs even finalize the fee, the destination is effectively chosen. Anderson has picked his path quietly and deliberately. And Manchester City’s environment suits a 23-year-old who wants to win things immediately rather than rebuild through uncertainty.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis will squeeze every penny from this, and rightly so. Expect negotiations over the fee to drag a little, with Forest pushing toward £120m and City anchoring closer to £100m. The structure of the payment, whether spread across instalments, will matter enormously to both clubs.

Transfer News: Man United locked in talks over €35m Belgian midfield prodigy

Manchester United, meanwhile, are chasing shadows here. Their midfield rebuild is real and urgent, but they walked into this race too late and with too little momentum. Newcastle as a romantic return destination is a compelling subplot, but Anderson’s ambitions point firmly toward the Etihad. Barring something extraordinary, City will complete this transfer news story before the World Cup begins.