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Nottingham Forest reportedly have one potential way of trying to fend off Manchester United and Manchester City’s interest in England midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer.
Elliot Anderson has become a key Manchester United target amid the Red Devils’ ambitions to overhaul the midfield in the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old England international has seen his transfer value skyrocket after his prominent rise at City Ground, following his exit from Newcastle United in 2024.
Nottingham Forest are believed to be demanding a fee of £100m plus before they sanction a sale of Manchester City- and Man Utd-linked Anderson in the summer.
Photo by Paul Bonser/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images Nottingham Forest’s Europa League campaign could be the key to the Premier League club keeping Elliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson is widely expected to play a starring role for England at the 2026 World Cup in the summer under Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.
The Three Lions international is likely to be closely watched at the World Cup by the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City amid uncertainty around his future.
However, reporter Ben Jacobs has claimed that Nottingham Forest could potentially sway Anderson’s exit from the Premier League club if they win the Europa League.
“The other bit of information that I found out the other day is that [Vangelis] Marinakis doesn’t mind waiting and gambling on something that still has a relatively low probability, but not impossible that Forest win this quarter-final against Porto in the Europa League,” he said on The United Stand.
“They could then face Aston Villa potentially in the semi-finals.”
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Getty Images Nottingham Forest’s Europa League run and Champions League qualification challenge could derail any Elliot Anderson swoops
Forest played out a 1-1 draw with Porto in their first-leg quarter-final Europa League clash at the Estadio do Dragao on Thursday ahead of their home leg next week.
Vitor Pereira’s men are battling Premier League relegation in their last seven league matches, but the Europa League could unlock a route to the Champions League.
Forest are only three points ahead of the Premier League drop zone and Vitor Pereira’s side are two points clear of 17th-place Tottenham for the final run-in.
Speaking on Anderson, the Europa League and Forest, Ben Jacobs added: “And if they go all the way and get Champions League football, then Marinakis is going to be bullish and basically not speak about a number, even a high one, but just try and keep Elliot Anderson because under that scenario.
“Forest, if they stay up as well, would have Champions League football.”
Anderson is currently under contract with Forest until 2029 amid the links to Premier League sides Man Utd and Man City in recent months in the 2025-26 season.
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