Manchester City join Chelsea in race for £75m midfielder

Manchester City have joined Chelsea in expressing interest in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Anderson is attracting interest from the Premier League’s top teams after a brilliant start to the campaign.

The 22-year-old leads the division for progressive passes and has broken into the England side under Thomas Tuchel. Anderson has started each of England’s last four fixtures, impressing alongside Declan Rice, to hugely improve his hopes of making next summer’s World Cup squad.

According to the Express, Anderson’s performances have not gone unnoticed at the Etihad. Manchester City view the midfielder as a potential addition next summer, with Pep Guardiola an admirer of his talent. City are keen to bolster their midfield amid doubts over Mateo Kovacic’s long-term future and Rodri’s recent injury record.

However, the Citizens could face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United. Forest are reluctant to lose the midfielder, who is valued at around £75m at the City Ground.

The news of interest from City and Chelsea could also complicate matters for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe has admitted he would ‘love’ to see the midfielder return to St James’ Park in the future.

Anderson came through the ranks at Newcastle but was sold to Forest in 2023 as part of a PSR-motivated move.

Though the deal was booked at £35m, the Magpies essentially received just £15m. Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, valued at £20m, joined Newcastle as part of the deal and made just one appearance. He is now on loan at Sevilla.

Asked about a potential return for Anderson, Eddie Howe said: “I don’t know, but certainly from my perspective I would love him to.

“I’m very respectful of the fact he is at another football club and I would never normally talk about a player in that way, so I won’t change that stance.

“But yes, it is very regretful a player from the academy who had given so much – and the club had given so much too, the coaching staff, all those years here and how people tried to develop those talents – for him not to be utilised here is a real shame.”

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