25 May 2026 10:02 BST |
3 min read
Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira has admitted that midfielder Elliot Anderson “deserves the best clubs in the world” amid significant transfer interest ahead of the upcoming summer window.
The England international, who is expected to start alongside Declan Rice at the 2026 World Cup, has emerged as a top target for both Manchester clubs over the past few months, with City believed to be the frontrunners for his signature as things stand.
The eight-time Premier League champions are searching for a new central midfielder to replace Bernardo Silva, who played his final game for the club against Aston Villa on Sunday, and they have earmarked Anderson as a primary option for the role.
They are also interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, and links with the Argentina star are likely to intensify when they confirm the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager following Pep Guardiola’s exit after 10 years in charge.
Man Utd, meanwhile, are in advanced talks over a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson, but they are expected to sign two central midfielders this summer, in a bid to replace Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, and they remain informed on Anderson’s situation.
Nottingham Forest’s asking price of a fee in excess of €120 million is likely to be a stumbling block in Man Utd’s pursuit of his signature, but they are still hopeful of finalising a deal for the 23-year-old ahead of the 2026-27 campaign after appointing Michael Carrick as their new permanent head coach.
Forest are, understandably, reluctant to sell Anderson, but Pereira revealed that his star midfielder deserves to play for one of the biggest teams in the world, hinting that a move could be on the cards in the process.
Vitor Pereira issues Elliot Anderson transfer update
When asked about Anderson’s future after Forest’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, Pereira admitted: “I don’t have the answer. If you ask me if he deserves the best clubs in the world, he deserves.
“He has a lot of quality, he is a talent. But he is our player and I am very happy with him. The market is the market, I cannot predict the market. I know we want to keep the same players, to bring two or three players to help us balance the squad. In the end, we’ll see.”
Anderson made 50 appearances across all competitions for Nottingham Forest during the 2025-26 season, registering nine goal contributions, and his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) currently stands at €57.7m.
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