Planning for Pereira, Forest target a simple summer and ponder replacing Anderson | OneFootball

Vitor Pereira wants tweaks rather than an overhaul this summer, but Forest’s plans hinge on Elliot Anderson’s future after Manchester City’s first bid was rejected.

According to NY Times, City are expected to return with a higher offer and Anderson could become the most expensive English player. Nothing is settled, yet Forest hope to bank £110m-plus, with owner Evangelos Marinakis aiming to top the £105m Arsenal paid for Declan Rice.

Pereira envisages three or four additions, one likely to succeed Anderson. Finding a like-for-like will be difficult given his all round game and homegrown status, and his progress at Forest after leaving Newcastle. January moves included Hayden Hackney, who appears to prefer Everton, and a £22m bid for Celtic’s Arne Engels, with champions reportedly preparing for his exit.

The head coach wants to keep key figures such as Murillo, Morgan Gibbs-White and Neco Williams, while Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates remain central options. Up front, a new striker is on the list after Lorenzo Lucca’s return to Napoli, with Chris Wood valued for nous despite turning 35 in December, and Igor Jesus looking most effective as a No 10.

Matz Sels impressed with a 70.9 per cent save rate in the Premier League, bettered only by Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City at 72.1, though clean sheets dipped from 13 to seven. Forest are likely to seek backup, with Stefan Ortega and Angus Gunn out of contract and John Victor sidelined since his January injury at Aston Villa.

Source: NY Times