Nottingham Forest head coach Oliver Glasner has confirmed the club planned for midfielder Elliot Anderson's departure well before his record-breaking 116 million pound transfer to Manchester City earlier this month.
The deal briefly marked the largest transfer in British football before Chelsea later surpassed the figure.
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Rather than replacing the England international directly, Forest management intends to reinvest the funds across multiple squad positions to build overall depth.
Glasner emphasized that the decision regarding the player's departure was finalized prior to his arrival at the City Ground.
"No, no, it was decided that he will leave," said Glasner.
The manager acknowledged the reality of the club's position within the football landscape while addressing the transfer strategy.
"I think that's what we have to accept. We are not at the end of the food chain in football.
Probably our best players will always have big offers," said Glasner.
The Austrian coach clarified that financial distress did not force the sale, framing the transaction as a strategic opportunity for squad enhancement.
"I think it's not possible to get a better player right now than Elliot Anderson was for Nottingham Forest, but maybe we can add one or two more players in other positions where we can get better as a team," said Glasner.
The club has already begun its recruitment process by signing Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager on a free transfer.
