The Sky Blues have targeted one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, it has to be because not just anyone can take the baton from one of the best of all time.
Manchester City are not and will not be alone in what is referred to by the British media as one of the most strategic operations of the summer. And that with Nottingham Forest as an unexpected lead actor. The sporting director of Manchester City has started formal contacts to secure the services of a midfielder who breaks patterns.
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Elliot Anderson has become the absolute priority to strengthen a midfield that needs new blood and modern defensive profiles. After his final explosion at the City Ground, the 23-year-old England international has piqued the interest of the most powerful giants. While Chelsea and Manchester United have been following his development for months, the “sky blues” have taken a decisive competitive advantage.
Manchester City’s planning in the post-Rodri era
The club led by Pep Guardiola understands that long-term planning is the foundation of their sustained success in the Premier League. With Rodri dealing with recurring physical issues for the past year and a half, the search for a successor has become urgent.
At Manchester City, they see the young product from Newcastle’s academy as the ideal profile to provide balance and clean distribution for the team. His ability to win back balls and drive offensive play fits perfectly with the high demands of the Etihad Stadium for that position. The operation aims to prevent a massive auction by establishing direct links to the environment of a player who already masters the league.
Elliot Anderson’s trajectory is an example of steady growth since financial regulations forced the “Magpies” to sell him. Since his arrival at Forest for £35 million, his market value has continuously increased due to his physical strength. His impact on the pitch is total, and he accumulates numbers that show that he is much more than a pure defensive midfielder.
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Manchester United see in him the generational replacement for a Casemiro who is already nearing the end of his successful career. Meanwhile, Chelsea see Anderson as the solution to the constant absences of key players such as Romeo Lavia or Dario Essugo.
The new British midfield wall
His solidity in every single duel places him as the best defensive midfielder currently available in the domestic market. His stats reflect a maturity beyond his age, and he is the quiet leader of a team that has managed to exploit all his virtues. At Manchester City, his coaching staff value his versatility and the tactical intelligence needed to play in Europe’s highest tier. TEAMtalk confirms that contacts have already been established, which puts the competitors from London and Manchester in a corner.
City’s board will not let go of what is “a national talent who guarantees immediate achievement and projection for the next golden age”. The stage is set for an economic and sporting battle where Guardiola’s seductive power could be the final deciding factor. As summer approaches, the pressure on Nottingham Forest will increase to release their top star into a giant. All indications are that the talented midfielder’s fate is linked to a level jump that will change the balance of power in England. Manchester City are holding the reins in an operation that will define the future of the most sought-after midfield on the islands.
