According to Spanish outlet TransfersArsenal have joined Chelsea and Manchester United in the race to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
The Gunners strengthened their midfield department last summer with the purchases of Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard. Zubimendi has been a mainstay in the starting line-up this season, while Norgaard has provided good support when needed.
Transfers claim that Arsenal are still aiming to enhance the experience in the center of the park. The source claims Norgaard is only a short-term signing given his age (31), and the Gunners are expected to pursue another big midfielder next year.
Mikel Arteta’s side are said to be ‘serious contenders’ to land Anderson amid interest from Chelsea and United. Arsenal are considering meeting Forest’s valuation of between £100m and £120m to sign him before other clubs push the price up further.
Forest have no plans to negotiate a deal mid-season and may not consider Anderson’s sale until next summer.
Unlikely deal
Anderson signed for Forest from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024. The Magpies parted ways with the talented midfielder as they needed to secure profits from player sales to stay within profit and sustainability rules.
The decision has benefited Forest immensely. The 23-year-old played an important role in the heart of midfield for Forest last season as they finished an impressive 7th in the league and qualified for the Europa League last season.
He has continued his exceptional form this campaign. The Englishman has one passing accuracy of 87% in the English top class. He has won a whopping 7.5 duels per league match, in addition to 8.4 ball recoveries and 2.6 tackles.
His sublime statistics have also made him a mainstay for the national team. He only made his England debut against Andorra in September but appears to have cemented his place alongside Declan Rice in the heart of midfield.
Arsenal would undoubtedly want such a staff in the squad, but a deal seems unlikely in our opinion. The Gunners currently have Zubimendi and Rice as undisputed starters in midfield under Arteta.
Anderson may have to play second fiddle if he wants to join the Gunners next summer. The Magpies graduate is unlikely to make a move to the Emirates Stadium unless he is guaranteed a starting position.
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