Manchester City aim to accelerate move for £100 million midfielder before World Cup | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City are reportedly plotting to accelerate their pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson prior to the summer’s FIFA World Cup.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise since a £35 million move from Newcastle United in 2024, cementing himself as one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders and, as a result, one of the most in-demand in the transfer market.

Anderson’s transition on to the international stage with England has been equally seamless under the Three Lions’ new manager Thomas Tuchel, with the midfielder virtually a guaranteed starter for his country heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Having seemingly formed a strong partnership with Arsenal star Declan Rice, the midfielder’s stock has never been higher, leading to intense scrutiny over his future at the City Ground amid widely reported interest from the North-West.

Man City aim to strike deal for £100M Anderson soon

Now, according to a wider-ranging report from MailSport, those in ‘agent circles’ say Manchester City have the Nottingham Forest midfielder as ‘priority No.1’ and are understood to be ahead in the race right now.

While the report insists the ‘done deal’ stage has not yet been reached, ‘the word right now’ is that City are looking to ‘accelerate’ their move for the England international prior to the summer’s FIFA World Cup.

It is explained that both Manchester clubs are wary that Elliot Anderson’s £100 million price tag at the City Ground could rise even further if he impresses under Thomas Tuchel for England in North America.

The Hugo Viana vs Evangelos Marinakis battle

The urgency from within the Etihad Stadium hierarchy, led by Director of Football Hugo Viana, is likely to stem from a desire to avoid a bidding war that could spiral beyond the current nine-figure valuation.

With Manchester United also heavily linked alongside interest emerging from the summit of the European game, City will be keen to leverage their all-but confirmed Champions League status and title-challenging credentials to secure a commitment before June.

From Nottingham Forest’s perspective, the club remains in a precarious position sitting 16th in the Premier League table with 32 points from 31 games heading into the April fixture list.

While owner Evangelos Marinakis is expected to be reluctant to lose his prize asset, the financial windfall from a £100 million sale could be transformative for the club’s long-term sustainability and recruitment strategy.

As for Manchester City, the signing of Elliot Anderson would go a long way towards their difficult mission of replacing Bernardo Silva between the end of the ongoing season and the start of the brand new campaign, with the Portugal international expected to depart upon the expiry of his contract this summer.