Man City Elliot Anderson Bid Rejected by Nottingham Forest

Manchester City’s man city elliot anderson bid was rejected by Nottingham Forest, but talks between the clubs are still active. City are now weighing a second offer for the 23-year-old midfielder, who remains under contract at Forest until the summer of 2029.

Forest Hold Their Line

The first offer went no further. Forest turned it down while City kept talking, leaving the move alive but not close to done. Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 and has become one of the main names in the market this summer.

That rejection leaves Forest in a strong position. A contract running to 2029 gives them leverage in any sale, and it puts pressure on City if they want to move quickly for a player they have identified as a target.

Budapest Meeting Shapes Talks

The backdrop to the failed bid was a meeting in Budapest last weekend, where Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Forest owner Evangelos Maranakis met at a dinner connected with the Champions League final. That conversation did not produce a deal, but it kept the line open between the two clubs.

City are thought to be in pole position to sign Anderson this summer, with Arsenal and Manchester United also showing interest. Forest know the competition, and they know the price will not be small if City come back with a better offer.

Anderson's Rising Value

Anderson’s appeal is built on more than interest alone. Last season he had 3,300 touches, the most of any Premier League central midfielder, and that volume has helped push him into the conversation around elite midfield fees that have gone above £100m in recent windows.

The next move belongs to City. If they return with a stronger offer, Forest will have to decide whether their long-term hold on Anderson lasts into another round of bids or whether the market starts to move the 23-year-old toward Manchester.