Man City and Chelsea set to battle for £75m-rated Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson | OneFootball

Manchester City and Chelsea are preparing to go head-to-head in what could become one of next summer’s biggest transfer battles.

According to The Mirror, the Premier League giants are set to slug it out for highly sought-after Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Anderson enjoyed a fantastic breakout campaign last season that put him on the map.

His performances earned him a spot in the England national team, and he hasn’t looked back since.

The “very talented” 22-year-old ace only joined Forest last season, but could be on the move again next summer as interested suitors continue to stack up.

Newcastle United were reluctant to let him go, but they were handicapped by the Premier League’s ruthless Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Forest were first on the scene, snapping up Anderson for £35 million. After his debut season, their initial investment in the midfielder proved to be a bargain.

The England international only missed one Premier League game for the Tricky Trees last season.

In his 37 league appearances, he scored twice and weighed in with a further six assists. He also created seven big chances, and his contributions off the ball were eye-catching.

Anderson won 66% of his aerial duels and averaged 2.5 tackles, 5.6 ball recoveries, and 1.8 clearances per 90 minutes.

He prefers playing further forward but has shown he can also hold down the fort at the base of midfield.

Anderson’s performances for both Forest and England have drawn interest from Man City and Chelsea.

City are looking for a long-term replacement for Rodri, who has struggled to stay fit since recovering from an ACL injury that kept him out for the majority of last season.

Anderson would be the perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s system, but the Cityzens may have to fend off competition from Chelsea.

Unlike City, Chelsea are spoilt for choice in the middle of the park, with Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, and Dario Essugo on their roster.

Lavia has struggled with fitness issues since joining Chelsea from Southampton, so any move for Anderson will only make sense if they decide to cut their losses on the Belgian midfielder.

Forest are aware of the growing interest in their prized asset and are hoping their £75m asking price will put off suitors.