Manchester City have seen a second offer for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson turned down, with that bid reportedly worth a total of £120 million.
Forest are playing hardball in negotiations and have now rejected two separate offers from City as the club looks to hold onto one of their most prized assets.
Despite the setback, sources close to the situation indicate City remain firmly committed to landing Anderson and are prepared to push forward with fresh approaches.
“Anderson is City’s priority, they want to get this deal done, and he wants the move,” one source close to the situation told CaughtOffside. “But City have other options and would be prepared to walk away if Forest won’t relax their stance.”
Manchester United had also been linked with Anderson but appear to have distanced themselves from the deal given the enormous figures being discussed in negotiations.
Instead, United are now said to be leading the race to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes for a fee in the region of £80 million, according to the Times.
That potential deal follows an agreement already being in place for United to sign Ederson from Atalanta, representing a strong start to the summer transfer window for the Red Devils.
Sandro Tonali has also emerged as a name attracting serious attention, with both Arsenal and Manchester City understood to have registered an interest in the Newcastle midfielder.
City’s pursuit of Tonali could accelerate significantly if the Anderson negotiations continue to stall, with Forest’s stubborn stance potentially forcing the club to explore alternatives.
Carlos Baleba had previously been a target for Manchester United, with personal terms even agreed last year, but a dip in form appears to have cooled their interest considerably.
Tottenham have previously been linked with Baleba, and that interest could be revisited now that former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has taken charge at the north London club.
Adam Wharton has drawn admiration from Liverpool, while Alex Scott’s stock has risen sharply in recent weeks, with the midfielder discussed internally at at least five leading Premier League clubs.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez adds another layer of intrigue to the midfielder market, with the Argentina international having made noises about wanting to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Real Madrid have been identified as an interested party in Fernandez, though the Spanish club’s plans are still being formalised amid work to confirm the appointment of new manager Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea’s current stance is that they wish to retain Fernandez, but a significant bid could force the club into the market, potentially elevating Tonali, Wharton, and Scott up their list of priorities.
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