Manchester United will explore other options if Nottingham Forest demand a certain transfer fee for Manchester City target Elliot Anderson, according to stunning reports.
Elliot Anderson has deeply impressed during his time at City Ground after Nottingham Forest signed the England international from Newcastle in 2024.
The 23-year-old midfielder has popped up on the transfer radars of both Manchester United and Manchester City after his run of form with Forest this season.
Anderson, who is under contract until 2029, has netted three times and registered three assists in 44 matches across all competitions for Forest this season.
Should Manchester United pay £125m for Elliot Anderson?
Reports suggest Nottingham Forest have set a £125m valuation on Elliot Anderson. 💰
Man Utd will not pay Nottingham Forest’s set transfer price tag for Elliot Anderson amid Man City links
Nottingham Forest face a tall order in keeping hold of Elliot Anderson for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign after growing interest in the Three Lions international.
Manchester United have been linked with Elliot Anderson amid the Red Devils’ continued rebuild of the first-team squad at Old Trafford for next season.
Forest are keen to keep hold of Anderson for next season and the Premier League club are reportedly demanding an eye-watering £120m for Anderson this summer.
According to BBC Sport, Man Utd are not prepared to ‘overpay’ for the former Newcastle midfielder and ‘won’t pursue’ him at Forest’s £120m valuation of him.
The outlet also added that United hold the view that every player has a ‘cap,’ irrespective of how sought-after they are or their talents on the pitch.
IF Elliot Anderson signs for Man City, who would be your TOP PRIORITY midfield alternative?
BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone explains the major priority for Man Utd this summer amid their interest in Elliot Anderson
Simon Stone, who inked the report for BBC Sport, has also explained that United’s main priority for this summer’s shopping spree is reinforcing the midfield area.
“I think I’ve done a piece for the BBC website, and in there, it makes it perfectly clear that they want, as an absolute number one top priority, one, two, possibly three central midfield players, depending on what happens with [Manuel] Ugarte, Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest is number one on that list,” he told BBC Sounds’ the Devil’s Advocate podcast.
“But they’re staying up now, so that’s going to be 120 million potentially.
“Well, you say that, but I’m not sure that’s quite done and dusted yet. But United are also saying 120 million; they won’t go to that.
“They say, we’ve heard this before numerous times, the days of paying huge salaries to people on long contracts, that they can’t get out of, that they’re still paying for at the moment.”
Man Utd will return to Premier League action on Sunday and the Red Devils and Liverpool’s clash at Old Trafford will kick off at 3:30pm UK time.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
