Manchester City have seen an opening £100m bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis holding out for a fee well in excess of that figure, according to the Daily Mail.. Anderson, who has three years remaining on his contract, is currently with the England squad in Florida preparing for the World Cup and has made 50 appearances in all competitions this season . The bid arrives as City undergo a managerial transition, with Enzo Maresca set to succeed Pep Guardiola pending compensation talks with Chelsea.

The £100m bid and Forest's hardline valuation

Manchester City's initial offer for Anderson was swiftly turned down by Nottingham Forest, as the Daily Mail first revealed. The primary obstacle is Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has been reluctant to part with key players this window and is demanding a figure above £100m for the 23-year-old. Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle United in a £35m deal that also sent goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos in the opposite direction, making the potential profit more than double the original outlay.

Enzo Maresca's rebuild: Anderson as the first cornerstone

City's pursuit of Anderson comes amid a period of major change. Maresca's arrival — still pending final agreement with Chelsea over compensation — signals a new tactical direction, and the departures of Bernardo Silva and John Stones have created gaps in midfield and attack. According to the Daily Mail, Anderson is central to Maresca's plans, and City ideally want to secure the deal before the World Cup kicks off, giving the new coach time to integrate the player during pre-season.

Anderson's 50-game season and the World Cup clock

Elliot Anderson has been a standout for Forest this campaign, making 50 appearances across all competitions and earning a call-up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad. He is currently at a training camp in Florida and is expected to play a key role at the World Cup. City's desire to finalise the transfer before the tournament reflects both their urgency and the potential for Anderson's price to rise further if he performs well on the global stage. With three years left on his contract, Forest hold a strong position in negotiations.

A £35m origin to a £100m valuation: Anderson's rapid market rise

Anderson's valuation has soared since his £35m move from Newcastle less than two years ago. the midfielder has made 92 appearances for Forest in total,establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most promising homegrown talents. The Daily Mail first reported City's intention to sign Anderson back in November, and the player is reportedly ready to join them ahead of rivals Manchester United. meanwhile, Tottenham are in talks for City winger Savinho, adding another layer to the transfer window dynamics as Maresca reshapes his squad.