Man City line up £75m bid for 'perfect' Rodri heir also wanted by Man United and Chelsea
Rodri has suffered yet another injury setback, and Man City are now linked to a Premier League holding midfielder.
Man City midfielder Rodri has dealt with a lot of injury problems over the last couple of seasons. He recently suffered a hamstring injury against Brentford before the international break, and had to be substituted off.
Pep Guardiola will likely start Nico Gonzalez in place of him this weekend against Everton, but with Rodri’s potential injury expected to keep him out until late October, City could look to add another defensive midfielder in January.
To ease some of the pressure and strain on the Spanish international, Guardiola is reportedly looking to sign a younger defensive midfielder, who can also be Rodri’s successor in the Man City midfield, but they may face competition from Arsenal and Manchester United, which could make a deal tricky to get over the line.
Man City line up £75m bid for Anderson
Elliot Anderson is having a career year at Nottingham Forest this season. The 22-year-old broke into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in September, and performed very well for the national team. Tuchel has continued to pick him, and he now looks a strong contender for the World Cup XI.
Man United have previously been credited with interest in Anderson, but it now seems that Man City could be going after him to be their long-term replacement for Rodri. According to a report by the Express, City are plotting a £75m bid for the midfielder, with previous reports saying that Forest wanted at least £70m for Anderson.
Chelsea are also mentioned as an interested team, but based on City’s financial power, they could really emerge as the frontrunners for the 22-year-old over the Blues and United.
Anderson has made nine appearances in all competitions for Forest this season and has arguably become their first name on the team sheet. He is a very assured holding player who could really bring some stability to Guardiola’s midfield. He would be the perfect heir to Rodri at the Etihad,
£60m Man United move could clear Anderson for City
Much of the talk around a holding midfielder in January surrounds Manchester United, as Ruben Amorim really lacks a reliable defensive presence in midfield to play alongside Bruno Fernandes.
The Red Devils are keen on Anderson, but he’s not their priority target, meaning that City could be clear to go after the Nottingham Forest star. Man United are more likely to go after Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who is expected to command a fee of at least £60m.
City have previously expressed an interest in Wharton, but it does seem at the moment that United is a likely move for the English midfielder. If he does join United, it would hand City less competition to sign Anderson, and so could make Man City’s pursuit of the England international that bit easier.