Meet the £30m star who can be Nottingham Forest’s dream Anderson replacement

Elliot Anderson’s departure has left a huge void at the heart of Nottingham Forest’s midfield, and Oliver Glasner is yet to find the ideal solution following his summer arrival at the City Ground.

The England international’s reported £116m transfer is the biggest sale in Forest’s history and gives the club a major opportunity to strengthen their squad with a high-quality replacement.

So far, only Xaver Schlager, Steven Benda and Ousmane Diomande have arrived in the East Midlands, with supporters increasingly concerned about the lack of further additions.

Schlager was brought in to strengthen the midfield, but he started on the bench in Forest’s opening game as Glasner opted for a different partnership.

Why Forest still need to sign a midfielder this summer

Since Anderson’s departure, Glasner has moved James McAtee into a deeper midfield role rather than using the £30m summer signing in his preferred number 10 position.

The 23-year-old played 74 minutes in the opening-day defeat and produced some tidy moments, but it was clear he was operating in an unfamiliar position.

McAtee won 75% of his ground duels at the City Ground, while also creating three chances and completing more forward passes than any other Forest player.

However, his physical profile and suitability for the role have raised questions, with some supporters unconvinced that he is the right man to operate directly in front of the defence.

James McAtee’s stats against Leeds United

• Minutes played: 74
• Touches: 51
• Pass accuracy: 86%
• Chances created: 3
• Passes into the final third: 7
• Ground duels won: 75%
• Fouls won: 2
• Ball recoveries: 5

£35m midfielder Ibrahim Sangare also started against Daniel Farke’s side and is likely to remain a key part of Glasner’s midfield for the rest of the 2026/27 campaign.

Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates remain further options, although both could find themselves relying on cup matches and injuries for regular opportunities.

Following Anderson’s exit, Forest were expected to spend heavily on a replacement. With the summer window approaching its conclusion, however, the club now needs to act and bring in a genuine top-level midfielder.

How Forest can land the perfect Anderson replacement

Lucas Bergvall has been a long-standing Forest target, but a move for the Swedish international now appears unlikely following recent comments from Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi.

After Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford, De Zerbi confirmed that the 20-year-old would remain with the Lilywhites despite the club’s £185m spending on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Forest will therefore need to explore alternative options before the September 1 deadline, with Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado emerging as a potential solution.

According to TEAMtalk, Forest are currently leading the race for the Spanish midfielder, who is reportedly available to leave the Catalan giants.

There is considerable competition for the 22-year-old, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion also said to have made contact regarding a potential deal.

Although the report does not specify a transfer fee, previous reports have suggested that a figure of around £30m could be enough to secure Casado’s services.

That could ultimately prove to be a bargain if he continues his development at the City Ground, given the quality he has already shown at the highest level.

Casado’s LaLiga statistics from last season highlight his ability to contribute both with and without the ball, making him a potentially excellent replacement for Anderson.

The Barcelona midfielder recorded a 91% pass-completion rate in Spain’s top flight, while averaging 1.3 chances created per 90 minutes.

Both figures placed him among the top 15% of midfielders in Europe last season, underlining his ability to dictate play from deeper areas.

Casado also impressed defensively, winning 60% of his ground duels and averaging 1.7 tackles per 90 minutes.

His energetic, box-to-box style could make him an ideal fit for Glasner’s midfield while giving the youngster an opportunity to continue his development away from his boyhood club.

If Casado can come anywhere close to matching Anderson’s impact at the City Ground, it could prove to be another outstanding piece of business from the Forest hierarchy.

A move for the £30m-rated midfielder could also solve one of Glasner’s biggest problems and give Nottingham Forest a stronger platform for what could be a memorable 2026/27 campaign.