Manchester City have had a first offer for Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest.
City have stepped up their search for a replacement for departing captain Bernardo Silva by making an opening bid for England international Anderson.
Anderson has also attracted interest from Manchester United, though City have long been the favourites to sign the former Newcastle player, while Michael Carrick is set to start his summer business with a £35m deal for Ederson’s Atalanta.
And Forest are thought to value the 23-year-old at £100m, if not more, while Anderson has three years left on his contract at the City Ground.
Premier League clubs have paid nine-figure sums for three midfielders, with Chelsea breaking the British transfer record for first Enzo Fernandez and then Moises Caicedo and then Arsenal paying £105m for Declan Rice.
City’s current record signing is Jack Grealish, who cost £100m in 2021, while they have paid out around £430m for new signings in the last three transfer windows.
While Silva has confirmed his departure, there are also doubts if other City midfielders will stay with Rodri saying he will address his future after the World Cup, amid talk of a move to Real Madrid, and questions if Nico Gonzalez will leave.
