Manchester City are continuing to assess midfield options ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window. The Premier League giants have been linked with several players as the club considers strengthening its options in central midfield.
One of the names that has consistently appeared on City’s radar is Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. However, reports suggest that the England midfielder could command a transfer fee close to £100 million, which has prompted City to examine other possibilities in the market.
According to Football Insider, Manchester City have now identified Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha as a possible alternative to Anderson due to the significant price attached to the Forest player.
Manchester City reach FA Cup quarter-finals after beating Newcastle United
City’s transfer planning comes shortly after the team secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Pep Guardiola’s side defeated Newcastle United 3–1 on Saturday despite making numerous changes to the starting lineup.
The victory allowed Guardiola to rotate his squad while still progressing in the competition. The manager will also be pleased that the match passed without injury concerns for his players.
Rodri was among those able to rest during the fixture. The midfielder has dealt with injury problems in recent months, so the opportunity to manage his workload could prove valuable for the remainder of the campaign.
Borussia Dortmund reluctant to lose Felix Nmecha amid Manchester City interest
Football Insider report that Borussia Dortmund view Nmecha as an important player and may be reluctant to allow him to leave. The 25-year-old has experienced a mixed season with the Bundesliga side.
Dortmund currently sit second in the Bundesliga standings. However, the club suffered disappointment in Europe after Atalanta eliminated them from the Champions League during the round of 16 play-off stage.
Nmecha has averaged 31.6 successful passes per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga this season. That number is notably lower than Rodri’s average of 64.8 successful passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League.
Manchester City midfield future uncertain with Bernardo Silva and Rodri linked with exits
Rodri has been Guardiola’s primary option in deep midfield areas and remains one of the most influential players in City’s system. His ability to control possession and protect the defence has been vital for the team.
Nmecha offers strong defensive qualities without the ball, though his technical ability in possession would face greater scrutiny in the Premier League. It also remains unclear whether he could perform consistently in a deep midfield role at the required level.
Manchester City may ultimately need more than one midfield signing during the summer window. Both Bernardo Silva and Rodri have been linked with possible exits at the end of the season.
Silva’s contract situation adds further uncertainty, as the Portuguese midfielder is set to be out of contract at the end of the 2025–26 campaign. Losing either player would remove leadership, quality and experience from Guardiola’s midfield options.
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