Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer, with well-placed sources increasingly confident he is headed to the Etihad Stadium, according to Sky Sports News.

Anderson, 23, has attracted interest from several top Premier League clubs — Manchester United and Arsenal among them — but City are understood to hold the strongest position in the race for his signature.

Anderson's value and contract situation

The England international joined Forest from Newcastle United in July 2024 for £35 million and has since developed into one of the division's most coveted central midfielders. His contract at the City Ground runs until June 2029, meaning Forest are under no pressure to sell cheaply.

Anderson is considered part of a group of elite midfielders expected to enter the market this window, alongside Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba, and potentially Aurélien Tchouaméni — a field that ensures his fee will be considerable.

Whether a deal is concluded before or after the World Cup remains unclear. Anderson is expected to feature prominently for Thomas Tuchel's England side at the tournament.

Midfield uncertainty at the Etihad

City face a significant rebuild in the middle of the park. Bernardo Silva's departure is already confirmed when his contract expires in June, while the futures of Mateo Kovacic and Nico González remain uncertain. Real Madrid's reported interest in Rodri adds another layer of complexity, though City are determined to retain him and are pushing for a new deal — his current contract expires in 2027.

City admire the progress Anderson has made under Forest's coaching staff since his arrival from Newcastle, and relations between the two clubs are reported to be positive.

Two more names on City's radar

Sky Sports News can also reveal that City are monitoring RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande and Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi as potential attacking reinforcements.

Diomande is regarded as one of the summer's most exciting young prospects, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich among the clubs tracking him closely. Kroupi, meanwhile, has made a strong impression since joining Bournemouth last summer, contributing 11 goals in 29 Premier League appearances.

City's forward options are already well-stocked, with Savinho and Jeremy Doku providing width and Erling Haaland leading the line — Omar Marmoush serving as backup striker. Right-back is another position City are monitoring, with Feyenoord's Givairo Read among those being tracked.

Anderson alongside Rodri — not instead of him

Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter argues that directly comparing Anderson to Rodri misses a more compelling point: the pair could complement each other. Both are midfielders built to anchor a side, with a capacity to break up play and win ground duels. Anderson ranked third in the Premier League for tackles and leads the division with 270 duels won — more than double Rodri's 106.

Rodri, by contrast, excels at retaining possession under pressure and recycling the ball through the thirds at an elite level. Since returning from his ACL injury he carries the ball far less — an area where Anderson thrives. Anderson's availability and age, six years Rodri's junior, also count in his favour.

Hunter notes that a Rodri–Anderson partnership, whether used simultaneously or in rotation, could serve Pep Guardiola's system well. The caveat, however, is real. High-profile midfielders have arrived at the Etihad with great fanfare before — Kalvin Phillips the most prominent cautionary tale — and Guardiola's demands on the position are famously unforgiving. Matheus Nunes, another expensive arrival, ultimately had to reinvent himself as a full-back to remain relevant to the manager's plans.