Elliot Anderson is massively overpriced and 'worth the same' as £35m Tottenham star - ex-Spurs scout

Manchester City will have massively overpaid if they ultimately agree to pay Nottingham Forest £130million for Elliot Anderson this summer.

That is the opinion of former manager and ex-Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham senior scout Bryan King, who exclusively told Football Insider that he would look elsewhere.

Negotiations are reportedly reaching the final stages in a potential deal for the 23-year-old, who started for England as they drew 0-0 with Ghana at the World Cup on Tuesday.

Anderson is under contract until 2029 and enjoyed a seriously impressive season, despite all of Nottingham Forest's troubles.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has been determined to hold out for a Premier League record fee for the midfielder this summer, and he looks set to get his wish.

Decision-makers at the City Ground have already turned down an offer worth £120m, including add-ons, from Man City.

Bryan King provides Elliot Anderson verdict

Newcastle United sold Anderson to Nottingham Forest for just £35m in 2024, with the midfielder coming on leaps and bounds since.

He has since become an important player for England and a stat leader in the Premier League for several defensive contributions.

King is not overly convinced, however. "He's a good Premier League player, that's for sure," he told Football Insider. "And he's helped Nottingham Forest from being in trouble to being a half-decent football team. 

"He's a fringe international player who I would think that the top four or the top five clubs would certainly be looking at."

The former scout added: "I wouldn't pay £130m for him. No way would I pay £130m. I don't put him in the [Morgan] Rogers class, and that's who I'd class him against. 

"When you're looking at players like that, you're looking at the Gallagher who went to Tottenham for £35m in January. You're looking at [James] Maddison who's coming back from injury and looks as though he could be OK for this season. Anderson, [Adam] Wharton, [Will] Hughes. They're all in that kind of class."

Anderson development portrays changing market

Historically, attacking players would always attract much larger fees than the players behind them.

However, recent years have seen the market for central midfielders explode, with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice and Enzo Fernandez all going for astronomical fees.

Anderson is expected to join them in that bracket, and should surpass the Premier League transfer record.

Rogers will not be far behind, however, with Aston Villa hoping to hold out for a similar fee.