Man City weigh £200m double swoop for Tonali and Anderson as Maresca deal nears

Manchester City are simultaneously pursuing Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer, with the club’s chief writer Simon Bajkowski’s stand-in Alex James confirming the pair are independent targets rather than alternatives to one another — a double signing that would cost upwards of £200 million.

City have already had two bids for Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest and are weighing whether to return with a third offer or hold their position in negotiations. Despite the setbacks, there remains a belief inside the club that a deal for the England international can be concluded. Tonali, meanwhile, is viewed as an additional option in his own right; any move for the Newcastle man is not contingent on the outcome of the Anderson pursuit.

On the managerial front, Enzo Maresca’s move from Chelsea to the Etihad is described as a question of timing rather than likelihood. Talks between City and Chelsea have taken considerably longer than the club anticipated, but sources close to the situation characterise it as a “when rather than an if”, with an official announcement expected within the next week or two.

The Q&A, a regular feature in which readers submit questions to the MEN’s City desk, also touched on Savinho’s future and the club’s winger targets. With the Brazilian seemingly edging towards the exit, City’s recruitment team are monitoring options, though no concrete replacement has been publicly identified. The ongoing Club World Cup is expected to influence the club’s shortlist, with strong individual performances potentially elevating players onto City’s radar.

The flurry of activity reflects a summer of significant rebuilding at the Etihad following a difficult domestic campaign, with the club looking to reshape their midfield and attacking options before pre-season begins.