Man City line up second bid for Elliot Anderson that would smash Nottingham Forest’s record sale

Manchester City are preparing a second bid for Elliot Anderson, talkSPORT understands.

City are prepared to pay in excess for £80million for the Nottingham Forest and England midfielder.

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Manchester United are not giving up hope of signing Anderson, but realise City are in the box seat.

Should Anderson depart Forest, his fee is almost certain to exceed the £55m Newcastle paid to sign Anthony Elanga from Forest last summer, meaning the midfielder would become their record sale.

Anderson is currently in Florida with the England squad as they prepare for their opening match against Croatia on June 17.

Following a season in which he chipped in with four goals and as many assists in 38 matches, his future at the City Ground has been a major talking point.

City bound?

Both City and Manchester United have made securing the services of the ex-Newcastle star a top priority.

But it is believed that Anderson favours a move to the Etihad Stadium.

And City have since formalised their interest in the seven-cap Three Lions international but Forest are yet to accept an offer from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.

talkSPORT previously told you how Forest believe Anderson is worth as much as the £105million Arsenal paid West Ham United for Declan Rice in 2023.

Anderson only joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for a fee of £35m.

In his two years with the Reds, has has found the back of the net six times from 92 matches across all competitions.

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One of those strikes came away at City in a thrilling 2-2 draw in March.

The England star played a one-two with Callum Hudson-Odoi before bending in a curling strike from range into the bottom right corner to earn the visitors a point.

Despite questions marks over Rodri’s future amid interest from Real Madrid, City are prepared to sign Anderson even if the Spaniard stays on beyond the summer.

United meanwhile are closing in on a deal to sign Atalanta’s Ederson.

However, they still are in the market to bring in two central midfielders, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba all admired.