Manchester City have started shaping their next midfield era. The club know they must plan carefully for the future, especially with questions growing around their long-term balance in the middle of the pitch.
The months ahead will be crucial, and City have been strongly tracking one name who continues to rise across the Premier League.
City officials have quietly been laying out their midfield strategy for 2026. They want someone who fits their style, someone who can step into a Pep Guardiola system with confidence.
Scouts have already travelled across the country to watch him repeatedly this season. Their interest is no secret inside the game, and their admiration has only grown.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have taken a firm stance. They know they have a valuable asset, and they know clubs at the top end of the league will call sooner rather than later.
Forest believe his value has risen sharply since his move from Newcastle in 2024.
That transfer came during Financial Fair Play pressure, but the midfielder blossomed almost immediately at the City Ground.
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City are also navigating their own internal picture. Rodri’s fitness concerns have prompted discussions around future protection in midfield.
The club want a Premier League-ready player, someone who can evolve alongside Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic while reducing the risk of a transitional dip.
Only after all this planning does the key development come forward.
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According to Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Elliot Anderson has privately informed his close professional circle that he is giving priority to Manchester City for a future transfer.
City’s leadership see this as significant. Player preference often becomes the deciding factor in long-term transfers, especially when the buying club can afford to wait.
Forest may want a fee above £100 million, but City are refusing to entertain that valuation for now. They believe patience will work in their favour.
Anderson will stay at Forest beyond January, and any move is only likely after the 2026 World Cup. If he becomes a regular under Thomas Tuchel for England next summer, his price could increase even further.
Forest know this, and City are watching it closely. For now, the advantage sits with the Premier League giants.
They have admiration from the player, a long-term plan, and the confidence to wait for the right moment.
If everything aligns after the World Cup, Elliot Anderson’s preference could become the turning point that shapes his next chapter.
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