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Manchester City are maintaining their interest in Elliot Anderson, with Nottingham Forest reportedly demanding a British record transfer fee exceeding £125 million ($168m) for the England international midfielder. Forest legend Stan Collymore shared with GOAL that the talented 23-year-old could represent “value for money” and even become an “absolute bargain”, though such evaluations are harder than ever to make in the modern football market.

Transfer fees surpassing £100 million have become increasingly routine in recent years. The trend began when Neymar’s world-record €222m (£192m/$258m) transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 transformed the global transfer landscape and drove prices skyward.

Since then, nine-figure deals have become more frequent, with Premier League stars such as Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez, and Florian Wirtz all commanding similar sums. Swedish forward Alexander Isak’s move from Newcastle United to Liverpool in 2025 remains the most expensive transfer in English football to date.

Manchester City are now looking to make Anderson a cornerstone of their new era following Pep Guardiola’s departure. After two standout seasons at the City Ground, which earned him a place in England’s World Cup squad, the midfielder’s reputation has soared to new heights.

Reports suggest City are willing to invest heavily in a player who can both regain possession and dictate play. To secure his services, they will likely need to exceed the financial terms of Isak’s record-breaking switch to Anfield.

When asked whether such astronomical fees can still be considered “value”, former Forest and England striker Collymore, speaking in partnership with BetWright football betting, told GOAL: “I think Saudi Arabia is now taking a step back. Cristiano Ronaldo is an exception because he’s a global brand, but I believe the Saudis have realised through ventures like LIV Golf that throwing money at something doesn’t guarantee automatic success.”

He added: “It will be interesting to see how their ties with Newcastle United evolve, especially as clubs like Newcastle, Forest, and Aston Villa have faced PSR and compliance constraints. They can’t simply spend freely without consequence.”

Collymore continued: “I think Abu Dhabi, Saudi investors, and American venture capitalists such as Todd Boehly are all part of a bigger picture. I’ve spent a week in the United States recently, and the cost of everything is staggering. When you see fans paying $10,000, $30,000, or even $50,000 just to attend the New York Knicks’ NBA playoffs, it shows that there’s really no such thing as value anymore.”

“So, if you’re Manchester City and you’re looking to transform the club, then for Abu Dhabi this is small change. Is Elliot Anderson worth that kind of money for a player of his age? Over a 10-year period, absolutely.”

“If the fee is around £120 million, just look at Declan Rice. The term ‘bargain’ is relative, but for a club like Arsenal, who hadn’t won the Premier League in two decades, that £100 million investment suddenly seems reasonable. I believe Anderson could prove to be of similar value.”

“It’s tough for other clubs to compete. Take Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, for instance—they’ve built a competitive team using several players who featured in the Championship under Dean Smith or arrived on free transfers, like Ross Barkley.”

“The point is, Elliot Anderson represents value for money in today’s market. If Manchester City keep him for a decade and he helps them win five Premier League titles, then he’s an absolute bargain.”

Nottingham Forest, however, are standing firm in negotiations. Their Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis is known for his uncompromising stance, and he will not sanction a sale unless his terms are met. Anderson, who remains under contract at the City Ground until 2029, will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.

City are working to meet Forest’s demands, factoring performance-related add-ons into the deal. The club hopes to finalise an agreement before the midfielder’s value rises further during the World Cup, where England begin their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday.

How far England can progress in the World Cup remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Elliot Anderson’s name will continue to dominate the headlines both on and off the pitch.