According to a rumour, Manchester City has begun negotiations to recruit Elliot Anderson, a midfielder for Nottingham Forest, making Manchester United’s poor start to 2026 even worse. The 23-year-old is the Red Devils’ main goal as they prepare to renovate their engine room this season. However, because it is acknowledged that Anderson would not relocate in the middle of the season, Manchester United has so far avoided negotiating with him.
Naturally, Forest has no intention of selling and is in a great position to set his own price this month. But in the summer, things will be different. Anderson’s contract has been characterised as complicated, and it is thought that it has provisions that would enable him to leave the City Ground in the next window for a fair price.
Man Utd will be first in line for the England player, but they run the danger of losing to their local rivals Man City, who have already signed Antoine Semenyo before the Red Devils.
Man City make move for Anderson
The physical demands of the Premier League have also been taken into consideration by City, who frequently use natural centre backs as full backs. There is a claim that Guardiola does not yet possess the same level of toughness in midfield as Arsenal, but Anderson’s arrival may alter that.
Like Rice, the Forest star is incredibly athletic, and he might be able to compensate for some of Rodri’s shortcomings when he’s not playing. Antoine Semenyo, a forward who joined City in January from Bournemouth, is expected to play a significant role in the team’s future front line. Phil Foden’s logical replacement may be Rayan Cherki, and the two could have a significant impact behind striker Erling Haaland.
Marc Guehi, a centre defender from Crystal Palace, has also been heavily linked to the Citizens and may be considered Ruben Dias’ long-term replacement. Semenyo’s signing and the connections to Anderson and Guehi suggest that City is setting itself up to contend for the championship in the upcoming seasons.
