Elliot Anderson is on course to become the next £100m-plus English player with Nottingham Forest ready to adopt a tough stance on his future.
Anderson will be in serious demand in the summer and could follow Jack Grealish and Declan Rice as the latest homegrown Premier League star to cost nine figures.
Manchester United and former club Newcastle United are two clubs with strong interest. Forest will not consider a sale of the England midfielder under any circumstances in the January transfer window.
Forest signed Anderson from Newcastle for a fee of around £15m in July 2024, taking advantage of strict profit and sustainability rules.
Newcastle were backed into a corner and forced into selling their academy product to raise funds and avoid the prospect of a heavy points deduction.
Greece international Odysseas Vlachomidos moved to Newcastle for more than £20m as part of the deal, with Anderson since emerging as one of England’s brightest young talents.
It is understood there are no clauses or stipulations in the five-year contract signed by Anderson. There is also no buy-back or sell-on for Newcastle, which was confirmed by manager Eddie Howe on October 5.
Forest’s valuation will be set by owner Evangelos Marinakis with the club expected to demand a figure at market value.
With potential interest from Champions League clubs in Europe, Anderson’s price could move above £100m after instalments.
Grealish was sold by Aston Villa to Manchester City in August 2021 for a £100m British record fee.
That price was topped by England midfielder Rice when he switched from West Ham to Arsenal for a total fee of £105m after add-ons.
Anderson is now a crucial player in England’s midfield under Thomas Tuchel, ahead of the World Cup next year.
Tuchel admitted last week that the 23 year old is now the “complete” midfielder after giving him his debut in the qualifier against Andorra in September. Anderson made his sixth England appearance as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Albania on Sunday.
“Anderson is a key player for us at the moment,” said Tuchel. “He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, that’s why he is with us and starting for us.
“He deserves it because he has been nothing but impressive. He has to keep on going now though. He is a very complete and mobile midfielder, and that’s what he keeps showing me.
“He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent. He is fulfilling his role in the best way possible so we are very happy with him.”
Anderson will return to club duty with Forest on Tuesday before this weekend’s trip to defending champions Liverpool.