Forest’s £40m gamble: can Curtis Jones fill Elliot Anderson’s void?

Nottingham Forest have secured £116 million from the sale of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City and now face a crucial summer decision on how to replace his midfield energy. Former Forest player James Perch has named Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones as the obvious target, urging the club to spend wisely.

Perch, speaking on the Weekend Sports Breakfast, argued that replacing Anderson’s all‑action intensity and reliability would require more than one signing. “To try and replace Elliot Anderson and what he does is going to be very hard,” he said. “I say it’s going to probably take two players to cover what he does because he does so much for Forest in that midfield.”

Curtis Jones, an England international, offers a different profile: calmness in possession, composure under pressure and Premier League experience. Liverpool reportedly value him at around £40 million despite only one year remaining on his contract.

Jones’s availability at Liverpool has increased following the appointment of Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot on 30 May 2026. The managerial change has altered the club’s midfield hierarchy.

He has slipped behind Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the pecking order, making a move more plausible for Forest.

Inter Milan have also been linked with Jones, signalling that clubs of that calibre see him as a player who can help them immediately.

Forest’s recruitment team must avoid treating the Anderson sale as a blank cheque; spending £40 million on Jones alone risks leaving the midfield short on athleticism and volume. Pairing him with another runner or ball‑winner could restore balance.

If Jones is the only move, the midfield’s identity risks further dilution, and the club’s next steps will reveal whether they view him as part of a broader rebuild or a quick fix.