Head coach Vitor Pereira has made it clear that Elliot Anderson remains a major part of Nottingham Forest’s long-term plans despite growing transfer interest ahead of the summer window.
The talented midfielder once again impressed during Forest’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United, producing two assists for Morato and Morgan Gibbs-White. His performances have reportedly attracted attention from several elite clubs, with Manchester City believed to be leading the race for his signature.
Even so, Forest are in a strong negotiating position and are determined to keep hold of the England international. Pereira admitted the unpredictability of the transfer market but stressed the club’s intention to retain the core of the squad.
“The market is unpredictable and anything can happen,” Pereira explained. “But what I can say is the club wants him to stay. We want to keep most of this squad because it’s a group full of quality, character and strong foundations for next season.”
Anderson’s outstanding campaign has reportedly pushed his valuation beyond £100 million, while many expect him to feature prominently for the England national football team at the upcoming World Cup.
Pereira also praised the midfielder’s enormous potential, insisting he has the ability to reach the very highest level in football.
“He has everything needed to become one of the best,” the Portuguese coach said. “He can still improve, especially when it comes to scoring goals. He has an excellent shot and can take more risks in attacking areas.”
The Forest boss also explained that Anderson’s role is influenced by the tactical system being used. With Forest operating with two central midfielders, discipline and positional awareness remain essential.
“In another system with more freedom, he could control and create everything,” Pereira added. “But in our setup, balance is important. Even so, he’s incredibly talented and still very young. He has the qualities to soar to the top.”
Alongside plans to keep their key players, Forest are also working on securing Pereira’s own future at the City Ground. Since arriving in February as the club’s fourth manager of the season, he has transformed the team’s fortunes by steering them to safety and guiding them to the Europa League semi-finals.
“We are already preparing for next season together,” Pereira confirmed. “There will always be speculation, but we’ve done very good work with the support of our fans. We now have the platform to build something even stronger moving forward.”
