Report: Man City now in pole position to beat Man United and Arsenal to sign £65m midfielder
Manchester City are reportedly confident they have won the race to sign Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson, leapfrogging bitter rivals Manchester United to land one of the Premier League’s most coveted young talents.
The 23-year-old has been at the center of a mounting transfer tug-of-war, but sources suggest the Etihad is now the midfielder’s preferred destination as City look to kickstart a major engine-room rebuild.
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A host of clubs are keen on signing Elliot Anderson
According to reports from The Mirror, City believe they are now in pole position to secure a deal worth approximately £65 million.
This news comes as a significant blow to a long list of suitors, including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham, all of whom have been monitoring the England international closely.
As per the report, Anderson is expected to leave the City Ground this summer regardless of whether Forest, currently embroiled in a fierce survival battle, avoids relegation.
While United remain ‘seriously in the race‘ under interim boss Michael Carrick, Anderson has reportedly let it be known that he favors a move to the blue half of Manchester.
City are eager to seal the transfer before the 2026 World Cup in North America begins, fearing that a standout tournament alongside Declan Rice could see his valuation soar beyond £100 million.
Arsenal are also firmly interested and the Rice factor could potentially play a role if he were to choose the Gunners.
Anderson is one of the best midfielders in England
Since his £35 million move from Newcastle United in 2024, Anderson’s rise has been nothing short of incredible.
This season, he has established himself as a midfield powerhouse, recording a pass completion rate of 88% across 31 Premier League appearances.
| Stat (2025/26 PL) | Total |
| Minutes Played | 2,774 |
| Tackles | 90 |
| Interceptions | 34 |
| Recoveries | 259 |
Elliot Anderson stats in Premier League this season via FotMob
With Bernardo Silva confirmed to be leaving and Mateo Kovacic also linked with an exit, Pep Guardiola sees Anderson as the ideal high-energy replacement.
His ability to drive forward from deep while maintaining defensive discipline has made him a certain pick for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
For City, securing Anderson early would represent the first major win in what promises to be a transformative summer for the Premier League giants.
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