Nottingham Forest eyeing Manchester City midfield raid as Elliot Anderson undergoes medical | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are both weighing up moves for Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to reports.

The Croatia international, 32, has just 12 months remaining on his contract and will be looking for a move away from the Etihad Stadium as City prepare to undergo a huge rebuild in the centre of the pitch. 

Motivated by the departure of legendary manager Pep Guardiola and the incoming arrival of Enzo Maresca, who is set to be confirmed as City boss in the near future, director of football Hugo Viana has put full focus on renovating the club’s midfield. 

Report: Forest & Villa eye Kovacic signing

Late on Thursday evening, news broke that City had finally reached an agreement with Forest for Anderson, after two previous approaches were turned down by City Ground club owner Evangelos Marinakis.

But now, a deal worth £115 million without add-ons looks set to confirm a club-record fee, beating Jack Grealish’s £100 million move from Villa. Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United is also on City’s radar.

Indeed, Anderson’s arrival intensifies the competition for a starting place in City’s squad, with Tijjani Reijnders’ future also in doubt alongside Kovacic, who is a target for Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, according to Sports Boom. 

How has Kovacic fared at Man City in the last 12 months?

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder made just six Premier League appearances last season – the lowest league tally of his professional career – due to injuries and fierce competition restricting his opportunities. 

Kovacic suffered an Achilles injury 12 months ago and underwent surgery to repair the problem, which sidelined him for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States

And after making only two brief appearances for City against Villarreal and Everton, the midfielder underwent yet another surgery in November 2025 before returning to action in April, earning a place in Croatia’s FIFA World Cup squad.

Should Man City cash in on Kovacic this summer?

In some quarters, it is agreed that a move away from Manchester is perhaps the best route that Kovacic can make as the club continues to plan life without Rodri if he decides to move on when his City contract expires next summer.

For Kovacic, he has the experience, having played nearly 600 professional games, that a team like Villa or Forest will desire; someone who can control the tempo of matches and show leadership in the heart of the group. 

Throughout his 97 games as a City player, the 32-year-old has grown into a structurally positive midfielder but has equally improved the City players around him, and a deal this summer would be highly beneficial for any club.