Manchester City are on the verge of completing the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with the long-running transfer saga now said to be reaching its final stages this summer.

The Premier League champions have gone through several rounds of talks after their initial bid was turned down by Forest. A subsequent offer of more than £120 million also failed to meet owner Evangelos Marinakis’ valuation, prompting City to prepare a third formal proposal in recent days.

According to multiple reports, the deal is now in its concluding phase, with Anderson expected to undergo his medical examinations in the United States while representing England at the FIFA World Cup, should the agreement be finalised soon.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the transfer negotiations between the two clubs have entered their ‘final stages’, reinforcing optimism that the move will be completed shortly.

Director of football Hugo Viana has made the Anderson deal a top priority for Manchester City this summer. The club is focused on rejuvenating an ageing midfield following Bernardo Silva’s move to Real Madrid, with incoming manager Enzo Maresca keen to have his key target secured before pre-season preparations begin.

As reported by talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are now finalising the terms of the transfer, which is expected to be one of the biggest deals of the window.

The negotiations have taken several weeks, with Nottingham Forest pushing for a fee of around £130 million. Marinakis has personally overseen the talks and kept senior figures at the club, including manager Vitor Pereira, largely uninvolved throughout the process.

Despite the drawn-out nature of the discussions, Manchester City remain confident of striking a deal. The arrangement’s structure, including the timing of completion—with Forest believed to favour a July finalisation for financial accounting reasons—has added further complexity to a saga that has stretched for nearly three months.

Anderson’s role in Maresca’s tactical blueprint has been underlined throughout the negotiations. The 23-year-old’s ability to carry the ball from deep positions and dictate play is seen as a key component in City’s planned midfield rebuild.

The England international’s performances at the World Cup have further enhanced his reputation, reinforcing his status as one of the most sought-after young midfielders in the Premier League and giving City additional incentive to complete the move before his market value climbs even higher on the global stage.

Reports have also suggested that Manchester City are considering a potential double move for Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali as part of their summer overhaul.

Securing Anderson before the team reconvenes for pre-season would provide a major boost for Enzo Maresca, who is eager to construct his debut campaign around a midfield that aligns with his tactical vision and long-term strategy for the club.