Premier League officials nervous: price could kick in as Man City's £120M+ pursuit of Elliot Anderson
A number of Premier League clubs are concerned that Elliot Anderson's £120M-plus move to Manchester City will be pushed up throughout the summer window, according to a report.
Manchester City's push for a mega-deal for Elliot Anderson is sending fears across the league, with it expected to increase the price in the transfer market this summer, according to a new report.
City have reportedly sent in a second offer of around £106 million with an additional £15 million in performance-related bonuses for the Nottingham Forest midfielder. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis considers the bid unacceptable, although it is also acknowledged in the Forest camp that Anderson's departure is likely to happen if the total fee reaches around £130 million.
Given the scale of the talks, many Premier League clubs are now examining the domino effect it will have on their own negotiations this summer. As Matt Law of The Daily Telegraph reports, some officials fear that a potential £100 million-plus price tag for Anderson will set another benchmark for other selling clubs to follow.
One industry insider even warned: "This will have a knock-on effect on the prices clubs ask for their players. The market could become more difficult."
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/en/city_xtra_articles_863/4337b8e13926ad602a281d6acde076bd" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>Rivals are also watching to see how City will show commitment to a fee in excess of £120 million for a young midfielder, as record payments between fellow English clubs often form the basis of subsequent transactions.
On the Etihad side, City are also likely to back down if Forest insist on a full cash payment upfront for the total sum in question—a condition Manchester City reportedly considers unreasonable regardless of the headline figure. Because of this, it is possible that the talks will end without an agreement.
However, if this deal is finally closed at a price close to the rumored figures, other clubs' fears will likely come true: asking prices will rise throughout this summer's transfer window.
At the same time, City still need to balance their other targets in various positions—including right back in defense and attack—further complicating their summer recruitment while Anderson's situation is still hanging in the balance.
