Man City agree £116m Anderson deal as Rodri uncertainty clouds midfield rebuild

Manchester City have agreed a £116m deal to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, the Manchester Evening News reports, as the club pushes ahead with a significant midfield overhaul this summer.

The fee is understood to be a flat £116m, despite earlier reports suggesting it could climb to £130m with add-ons. Anderson becomes one of the most expensive midfield signings in City’s history and arrives as the club attempts to reshape a department that has been unsettled by departures and injury concerns.

Bernardo Silva has already left the Etihad, and the future of Rodri — arguably City’s most important player — remains unresolved. The Spain international was asked to clarify his intentions ahead of the World Cup, with Real Madrid long-standing admirers of the midfielder. His response did little to dampen speculation. “I understand there might be some noise, but for me I’m obviously going to focus on the World Cup,” Rodri said. “I’m not going to dedicate my time to that, and then after the World Cup let’s see.”

The uncertainty does not stop there. Nico Gonzalez endured a difficult campaign last season, Tijjani Reijnders failed to sustain the promising start he made to his City career, and Mateo Kovacic was hampered by injury throughout. The futures of all three players are said to be unclear heading into the transfer window.

With so much flux in the engine room, City are reported to be keeping their options open. Sandro Tonali and Ayyoub Bouaddi are among the names on the club’s radar as they look to build depth and cover for a position that could look very different by the time the new season begins.

Anderson’s arrival signals intent, but the scale of the rebuild still required — particularly if Rodri were to leave — means City’s midfield planning is far from complete.