Elliot Anderson: Man City warned of £116m transfer “risk” as early Premier League title prediction delivered

Manchester City should beryllium afloat alert of the “risk” they are taking with the £116m transportation of Elliot Anderson, a erstwhile Citizens subordinate has exclusively told Sports Mole.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Man City person reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to motion the 23-year-old for what would correspond a club-record fee, surpassing the £100m spent connected Jack Grealish successful 2021.

The Citizens had antecedently failed with 2 bids, but manager of shot Hugo Viana present appears to person struck an statement with Forest proprietor Evangelos Marinakis pursuing a affirmative circular of negotiations.

Anderson is presently distant connected England work astatine the 2026 World Cup and is soon expected to acquisition a aesculapian successful the United States earlier his transportation to Man City tin beryllium finalised.

Widely regarded arsenic 1 of the hottest midfield properties connected the Premier League market, Anderson has been identified arsenic a superior midfield people by Man City, pursuing the departure of nine fable Bernardo Silva and uncertainty implicit the semipermanent aboriginal of Rodri.

The expected accomplishment of Anderson for specified a ample interest is simply a existent connection of intent from Man City, who are preparing for the post-Pep Guardiola epoch nether soon-to-be-appointed manager Enzo Maresca.

After failing to triumph the Premier League rubric past season, Man City volition beryllium keen to sound reigning champions Arsenal disconnected their perch astatine the apical of the array successful the 2026-27 run and debar a 3rd successive twelvemonth without winning the trophy.

While erstwhile Man City and England defender Danny Mills has backed the Citizens to beryllium 1 of the main contenders to triumph the rubric adjacent season, helium has questioned whether Anderson is worthy the club-record interest the Sky Blues are consenting to pay.

Mills has besides highlighted the similarities betwixt Anderson’s woody and 1 involving Kalvin Phillips, who was a highly-rated England midfielder earlier his vocation took an alarming nosedive astatine the Etihad Stadium.

Phillips was signed by Man City for an archetypal £42m, but helium played conscionable 32 times nether Guardiola and has since been loaned retired to 3 antithetic clubs, astir precocious dropping down to the Championship with Sheffield United during the 2nd fractional of past season.

Anderson to Man City: The Kalvin Phillips cautionary tale

“Man City volition beryllium determination oregon thereabouts for the rubric adjacent play nary substance what; they surely person the squad.” Mills told Sports Mole. “If someone's prepared to wage [£116m] for Elliot Anderson, past he's worthy [it].

“Your location is lone worthy what idiosyncratic volition wage for it. Would I wage that overmuch for Anderson? Probably not, but the Man City owners person a small spot much wealth than me! It depends connected whether Rodri leaves.

“They tried a akin woody with Kalvin Phillips; helium had been 1 of England’s champion players during the Euros but it didn't enactment retired for him astatine City, for immoderate reason. So there's ever a risk.

“Elliot Anderson has had a fantastic season. He looks similar a very, precise bully player. If Rodri stays, volition helium spell to City and play each week? Probably not.”

Why Man City are paying club-record interest for Elliot Anderson

On apical of the £116m transportation fee, Man City are reportedly giving Anderson a £300,000-a-week salary, making him 1 of the club’s highest earners to suggest that helium volition person an important relation to play adjacent play and beyond.

Anderson’s all-action, press-resistant, tenacious illustration has caught the attraction of Man City, with nary Premier League midfielder ranking higher for touches (3,300), possession won (306), fouls won (80), duels won (297), line-breaking passes (376) and palmy passes (2,038) during the 2025-26 campaign.

Although Anderson has nary Champions League experience, helium did assistance Forest scope the Europa League semi-finals past season. He besides played successful each 38 Premier League matches past play arsenic the Tricky Trees narrowly avoided relegation, 12 months aft their seventh-placed finish.

Meanwhile, Mills has shared his thoughts connected a projected transportation for Tino Livramento to Man City and the “conundrums” facing Maresca successful the transportation market.

Danny Mills was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of betTOM.