While Elliot Anderson establishes himself as one of England\u2019s most important players at the World Cup, back home, the Nottingham Forest midfielder is prompting plenty of teeth sucking across the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Anderson starred in the Three Lions\u2019 thrilling opening win against Croatia<\/a>, showcasing on the world stage his supreme talent across every facet of Thomas Tuchel\u2019s midfield.<\/p>\n It\u2019s nothing new to Trent Enders or anyone with a casual interest in Our League. Anderson has been brilliant for Forest since signing from Newcastle in a deal two years ago designed to ease PSR concerns at the midfielder\u2019s hometown club.<\/p>\n Newcastle were reluctant sellers then so the Magpies must be seething over the prospect of Anderson breaking the British transfer record this summer.<\/p>\n That is Forest\u2019s insistence if they are to sell Anderson, the Reds wanting a fixed fee that would eclipse the \u00a3125million Liverpool paid the Toon for Alexander Isak last summer.<\/p>\n Contrary to what Anderson\u2019s suitors want us to believe, it is not an unreasonable demand.<\/p>\n Manchester City have made the first move, reportedly offering \u00a3106million with another \u00a314million perhaps to follow in add-ons. Given the uncertainty around City in the weird post-Pep, pre-verdict era, Forest are smart to insist upon a set figure.<\/p>\n Having been knocked back, City are weighing up their options while Premier League rivals chirp from the sidelines. Manchester United are even less willing than City to cough up<\/a>, presumably because they have been burned so often when they have used their considerable clout in the past, while other clubs moan that any record deal for Anderson would distort the market for midfielders this summer.<\/p>\n Even if that were a legitimate concern, it is not City\u2019s problem, and it definitely isn\u2019t Forest\u2019s. A record fee for Anderson would be a fair market price for the seller and, hard though the sceptics and traditionalists find it to believe right now, the midfielder could prove to be a bargain for City.<\/p>\n It has been three years since Chelsea twice broke records to sign midfielders \u2013 Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez \u2013 around the same time Arsenal paid \u00a3105million for Declan Rice.<\/p>\n The market has hardly been flooded by nine-figure midfielders<\/a> since, with such fees still reserved for the very best, supposedly transformational stars.<\/p>\n Chelsea certainly don\u2019t seem to have many regrets \u2013 not specific to those deals at least \u2013 and Arsenal fans will tell you they got Rice for half-price.<\/p>\n It is decent bet that City \u2013 or United, if they could just get over their past \u2013 will be saying the same of Anderson in the coming years.<\/p>\n He is provably the best midfielder available to any club who might be able to afford him. This season was no flash in the pan\u2026<\/p>\n 1 \u2013 Elliot Anderson\u2019s Premier League rank among midfielders this season.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd47 Touches (3,300) Everywhere. pic.twitter.com\/dFwo9Pqjxr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It is hard to imagine that Anderson could make a bigger difference to any side than he would at United, but there is wider significance too in City going all out for the \u2018Geordie Maradona\u2019.<\/p>\n
\ud83e\udd47 Possession won (306)
\ud83e\udd47 Fouls won (80)
\ud83e\udd47 Duels won (297)
\ud83e\udd47 Line-breaking passes (376)
\ud83e\udd47 Successful passes (2,038)<\/p>\n