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Manchester City remain keen on acquiring Elliot Anderson, with Nottingham Forest reportedly demanding a British record transfer fee exceeding £125 million ($168 million) for the England midfielder. Forest legend Stan Collymore has told GOAL that the talented 23-year-old could actually represent “value for money” and even prove to be an “absolute bargain” — a concept becoming increasingly elusive in today’s football economy.

Transfers surpassing £100 million have become increasingly routine in recent years. The trend began when Neymar’s landmark €222 million (£192 million/$258 million) switch from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017 redefined the transfer market’s upper limits.

Since then, nine-figure deals have been commonplace in the Premier League, involving stars such as Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Enzo Fernandez, and Florian Wirtz. Swedish striker Alexander Isak’s 2025 move from Newcastle United to Liverpool remains the costliest purchase in English football history.

Manchester City envision Anderson as a cornerstone of their squad in the post-Pep Guardiola era. Following two stellar seasons at the City Ground that secured his place in England’s World Cup squad, the midfielder’s reputation has soared. City are reportedly ready to make a substantial investment in a player capable of both recovering possession and dictating play, even if it means surpassing the terms of Isak’s record-breaking transfer to Anfield.

When asked about whether such astronomical figures can ever reflect real “value,” Collymore, speaking in association with BetWright football betting, told GOAL: “I think Saudi is now slightly rowing back. I know that [Cristiano] Ronaldo has got another contract, and Ronaldo’s slightly different because he’s a global brand. But I think the Saudis have realised, like with LIV Golf, that just throwing money at something doesn’t automatically make it successful.”

He continued: “It’ll be interesting to see how their relationship with Newcastle United evolves, especially since clubs like Newcastle, Forest, and Villa have faced PSR and compliance issues. They can’t just spend freely without consequences.”

“I think Abu Dhabi, Saudi, and American venture capitalists like Todd Boehly are all part of a trend. I’ve been in the U.S. for a week, and I come here every year — it’s astonishing how expensive everything has become,” Collymore added. “We’ve talked about ticket prices; people spend $10,000, $30,000, even $50,000 to watch New York Knicks playoff games without hesitation. So, in that sense, there’s no real value in anything anymore.”

“For Manchester City, if they’re looking to completely reinvent the club, £125 million is small change for Abu Dhabi. So yes, I do think Elliot Anderson is worth that kind of investment at his age — especially over a 10-year span.”

“If you look at Declan Rice — £120 million looks huge, but when Arsenal win the Premier League after 20 years, that amount suddenly feels justified. Football value is relative. I believe Anderson could offer a similar return for City.”

“Of course, it makes life harder for other clubs to compete,” Collymore acknowledged. “Look at Unai Emery at Aston Villa — he’s utilising players who featured in the Championship under Dean Smith or even free transfers like Ross Barkley. But that’s precisely why Anderson represents value in today’s market. If City sign him for 10 years and he helps win five Premier League titles, then it’s an absolute bargain.”

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are standing firm. Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis is known for his resilience in negotiations and will not accept anything below his valuation. Anderson remains tied to a contract at the City Ground until 2029, meaning Forest can afford to hold their ground.

City are working to meet Forest’s demands, including performance-based add-ons, and hope to finalise a compromise before Anderson’s valuation rises further during the World Cup — where England kick off their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday.

As England prepare to chase global glory, Manchester City’s pursuit of Anderson continues to be one of the most closely followed transfer stories of the summer.