Manchester City face financial challenge to secure leading midfield transfer target in 2026 | OneFootball

Etihad Stadium recruitment bosses are facing an uphill challenge to secure the services of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, according to new reports.

Manchester City’s admiration for Anderson has been well-documented in recent weeks, with Pep Guardiola and Hugo Viana identifying the 23-year-old as a headline midfield target at some stage in 2026.

City view Anderson as a long-term successor in the centre of the park capable of operating as either a No.6 or No.8, and a player seen as fitting the technical and physical profile that would allow him to slot seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s evolving system.

But while City continue to position themselves for what could become a high-profile pursuit, Nottingham Forest remain firm in their valuation, with owner Evangelos Marinakis expected to target an eye-watering £100 million. One report has already stressed there are no clauses, sell-ons, or mechanisms that would make a sale easier for any buying club, too.

Further complications arise from competition, with all of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea monitoring the midfield market ahead of the new year, and a Premier League bidding war cannot be ruled out. While City hold strategic advantages – reportedly including Anderson’s preference for a move to the Etihad – price remains the major stumbling block.

And now, according to the information of Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Nottingham Forest are likely to increase their eye-watering £100 million asking price for their in-demand central midfielder next summer.

It is claimed that officials within the City Ground are prepared to raise their asking price for Elliot Anderson even further if he stars for his country under Thomas Tuchel during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For City, the implications are significant as the club will need to weigh up whether Anderson’s projected impact justifies a price that could rival some of the biggest British transfers in history. Their interest remains strong, and the player’s reported preference could offer an important advantage, but officials have shown no willingness so far to overpay in the market.

Should Forest push the valuation into even more staggering territory, Manchester City may be forced into a strategic crossroads of whether to commit to the blockbuster fee, attempt to negotiate using the player’s desire to join, or pivot toward more affordable alternatives.

With plenty of time and matches between now and the World Cup, the midfield narrative around Elliot Anderson is only likely to intensify, and Manchester City face a tough decision of how far they are willing to go for their ideal 2026 midfield signing.