1 hour ago
1
Nottingham Forest is already lining up replacements for Elliot Anderson, and the irony is rich: they want to sign someone from the very club trying to poach him.
Forest has identified Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a primary target to fill the void that Anderson’s departure would create. The 23-year-old England international, who arrived from Newcastle United on July 1, 2024, for a reported fee of £35 million, has become one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League.
The numbers behind Anderson’s expected exit
Manchester City is reportedly in advanced discussions to sign Anderson, with fees that could exceed £100 million. One report puts the guaranteed figure as high as £116 million, which would represent a staggering return on Forest’s initial £35 million investment from just two years ago.
Anderson is said to be confident about making the move to the Etihad. At 23, he represents the kind of long-term midfield investment that City has historically been willing to pay a premium for.
Why Kovacic makes sense for Forest
Manchester City is currently re-evaluating its midfield options ahead of the 2026-27 season. The club has uncertainty around several midfield players, including Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders. If Anderson arrives as the new centerpiece, someone has to make way. Kovacic, whose contract runs until 2027, could be the odd man out.
The Croatian international brings obvious qualities. He’s played at the highest level for years, featuring for Real Madrid, Chelsea, and City. For a Forest side that has established itself as a genuine force in England’s top flight, adding that kind of experience isn’t just a consolation prize.
Kovacic is not the only name on Forest’s list. The club has also reportedly expressed interest in Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan, which suggests the recruitment team is casting a wide net across different profiles. Frattesi offers a more dynamic, box-to-box presence compared to Kovacic’s metronomic style, so the two targets represent genuinely different approaches to solving the same problem.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) · 