The saga surrounding Elliot Anderson's future has felt like one of the defining stories of Nottingham Forest's summer.

For weeks, Man City have been circling one of the Premier League's standout midfielders, and what began as interest quickly developed into formal discussions.

Then came two offers, immediately followed by two rejections.

Forest's stance has barely wavered throughout the process, and the club have consistently made it clear that selling Anderson would require an extraordinary proposal.

That position was reinforced when City saw multiple bids knocked back despite putting significant money on the table.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested Forest are demanding more than £120 million as a guaranteed fee before seriously considering a sale, and that figure underlined just how highly Anderson is valued at the City Ground.

From Forest's perspective, the reasoning is obvious.

The midfielder is the heartbeat of Vitor Pereira's side, with his energy, technical ability and leadership qualities transforming him into one of the most influential English players in the division right now.

Now, the story has taken another significant step forward.

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg this afternoon, negotiations between Forest and City are now advancing.

The latest report also contains another important detail.

Man United have long been mentioned as admirers of the midfielder. However, Plettenberg states there is currently no comparable offer from Old Trafford — giving City a clear run at the 23-year-old's signature.

For a small portion of the summer, there was an expectation that a bidding war could emerge between the two Manchester clubs, and that scenario would have suited Forest perfectly.

Instead, City appear to have established a clear advantage.

The midfielder was one of the faces of Forest's late-season resurgence, and losing him would be a major blow regardless of the fee involved.

At the same time, when elite clubs arrive with record-breaking offers, even the strongest positions can be tested.

That appears to be exactly what City are attempting to do.

Forest's valuation remains extremely high and City must decide how far they are willing to go, yet the latest update suggests this process is now moving.

After weeks of speculation, rejected bids and mounting interest, the possibility of Anderson swapping the City Ground for the Etihad Stadium suddenly feels upon us.