Manchester City agree record £130M deal for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City lodged a third bid for Nottingham Forest and England international Elliot Anderson, reaching an agreement in the process, according to reports.

Hugo Viana – the Manchester City sporting director – has firmly identified the 23-year-old as the club’s number one transfer target, and the main priority to strengthen midfield in light of Bernardo Silva’s exit on a free transfer this summer.

Those at the Etihad Stadium feel as though the former Newcastle United starlet fits the exact profile of midfielder required to excel under incoming manager Enzo Maresca, who is expected to be confirmed as City’s new coach in the coming days.

Manchester City are understood to have had an initial proposal in the region of £85 million rejected by Nottingham Forest, before a second bid comprised of a guaranteed £106 million plus a further £15 million in potential add-ons was also turned down at the City Ground.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is believed to have been handling talks personally and was insistent on securing a new British transfer record for Elliot Anderson and a fixed fee higher than the £125 million Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak.

Man City launch third proposal and agree deal for Anderson

Now, as first reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Manchester City made their newest and improved offer to sign England international midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

While it was originally revealed that there was not yet an agreement between the two clubs, it was very quickly updated that a deal worth up to £130 million had been finalised – as first reported by The Telegraph’s John Percy.

Elsewhere, according to Fabrizio Romano, it is being reported that City will pay a £116 million fee for Elliot Anderson with no add-ons included in the agreement – this from the perspective of those at the Etihad Stadium.

Further reporting by John Percy has clarified that Anderson to Manchester City – paid in cash up front with no bonuses – is not a new British record transfer but is a new club record, eclipsing the £100 million paid for Jack Grealish in 2021.

The Englishman has also been granted permission to undergo his Manchester City medical in New York on Friday morning, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

What else are Man City aiming to do this summer?

With an agreement now reached for Elliot Anderson, and personal terms not expected to be an issue with the midfielder given his desire to join Manchester City, Hugo Viana and his colleagues can turn attentions to other identified areas for reinforcement this summer.

Among those positions is expected to be right-back, with reports this week suggesting that there may be interest from the Etihad Stadium in Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, with the Frenchman assessing his options as Marco Palestra moves to Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, a winger could also be on the agenda as well as further signings in the centre of the park, with interest in both Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali – who is also attracting attention from Tottenham – and Lille’s 18-year-old breakout sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi.