Manchester City have been one of the most active teams in England in recent transfer windows. Despite having added a lot of quality to their squad, Pep Guardiola’s team still remain in the market for more, and according to a report from Fichajes, City now have their eyes set on Nottingham’s Elliot Anderson.
The Premier League giants could table an offer in excess of £75 million to prise him away from the Tricky Trees and beat Chelsea to his signature. They see him as an ideal long-term replacement for Rodri, who hasn’t hit top gear since returning from injury.
Anderson came up the ranks at Newcastle United. After two seasons with their first team, he made the switch to Nottingham in the summer of 2024 and hasn’t looked back since. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of their mainstays, and his impressive performances haven’t gone unnoticed.
While he prefers playing in attacking roles, Anderson is equally effective in a holding role. His high-pressing ability, strong physical presence, and great positioning are qualities that have put him on the radar of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
The Manchester-based giants are looking for someone who can take up a similar role to Rodri or complement him until he regains his best form. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t fully recovered since suffering a serious injury last season.
While he is back fit, he is still facing physical discomfort and is far from his best. More importantly, his contract runs out in 2027, and a new deal is nowhere in sight at this point. As a result, City are looking to prepare for a situation where he ends up leaving the club or fails to regain top form.
Guardiola has tried Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic in Rodri’s role, but neither of them has been convincing enough. As a result, he has turned towards the market, and Anderson is one of the names that is quite high on their wishlist.
They feel he could be just the perfect guy to strengthen their midfield rotation. As a result, the club are considering putting forward an offer of over £75 million. While they will face competition from Chelsea, who are also keen on the 22-year-old, with Romeo Lavia struggling for fitness, City are looking to prise them out of the race.
However, money alone won’t be enough to get a deal over the line. They will have to convince Anderson about their project and his role in the team.
