Manchester City’s improved £120m bid for Anderson turned down by Forest

Nottingham Forest have turned down a second offer from Manchester City for Elliot Anderson, understood to be worth around £120m, as the club continues to hold out for a fee closer to its own valuation of the midfielder. The rejection sets up a tense final stretch of the window for a player who has emerged as one of the most sought-after English midfielders on the market.

Anderson is reported to be open to interest from both City and Manchester United, but sources close to the deal suggest he would prefer a move to the Etihad if Forest can be brought to an agreement. That preference complicates United’s own long-standing pursuit of the 24-year-old, who has become a first-team fixture since his move from Newcastle two years ago.

Forest’s resistance reflects the leverage a mid-table Premier League club can hold when a player still has time left on his contract and no shortage of suitors. Having already lost key contributors in recent windows, the City Ground hierarchy appears determined not to be rushed into a deal that undervalues one of its most influential players.

With City needing to strengthen central midfield following a summer of squad turnover, and the transfer deadline edging closer, a resolution is expected to come down to how much further City are willing to move on their valuation — and how much patience Forest have left to test it.