Manchester City are prepared to spend upwards of £200m on Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, and both names are being treated as serious targets rather than backup options. City have already had two offers for Anderson knocked back, while Nottingham Forest are reportedly holding out for a fee above £125m to set a new British transfer record. The scale of the pursuit says plenty about how aggressively City are approaching their midfield reset.
Anderson's valuation and City’s stance
Alex James of the Manchester Evening News put it plainly: "Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali are both of interest to City this summer."
He also added: "Any prospective move for the Newcastle man is not dependent on what happens with Anderson so there is a chance City could land both this summer, although that would likely cost them upwards of £200million."
That is a serious number, but it is backed up by the way City have gone about Anderson. Two bids have already been rejected, and Forest are not hiding their valuation. If they hold firm above £125m, this becomes a deal City will have to really want rather than a price they simply test.
The football case for Anderson is easy to see in the numbers available. He has a 7.2 rating in the World Cup, played 94 minutes in that match and posted one goal contribution. He also hit a 9.0 rating in a recent Premier League match, the sort of peak performance that helps explain why he is being treated as a centrepiece target.
Tonali and the Spurs competition
Tonali looks like a different kind of chase, but the interest is just as real. Michael Bridge of Sky Sports News said: "Man City are considering rivalling Spurs for Tonali."
Tottenham have already held productive talks with Tonali’s representatives, and the competition matters because Spurs are not approaching the summer lightly. Sky Sports says they want to redo the whole midfield and could make up to seven or eight signings, which puts Tonali into a market where he is one of several major pieces being chased.
Tonali’s recent output is steady rather than flashy. He has a 6.9 recent rating stretch and has logged long minutes, including 95 and 96-minute outings. That points to the kind of durability and control City usually look for in midfield, especially when they are weighing up a spend this large.
The broad picture is clear enough. City want both players, they believe the double move could cost upwards of £200m, and they are not dealing with soft resistance on either front. If they push ahead, this summer could become one of the club’s heaviest midfield overhauls in years, with Anderson’s price and Tonali’s competition setting the terms.
FAQ
Will Manchester City try to sign both Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali this summer?
City are being linked with both players, and one report says they could land both this summer. That would likely push the combined cost upwards of £200m. Two offers for Anderson have already been knocked back, while Tottenham are also in the race for Tonali.
Why are Nottingham Forest asking for so much for Elliot Anderson?
Forest are reportedly holding out for a fee above £125m to set a new British transfer record. City have already had two offers for Anderson rejected, so any move would have to meet a very high valuation.
Are Tottenham a real threat to Manchester City in the Sandro Tonali race?
Yes. Tottenham have already held productive talks with Tonali’s representatives, and Sky Sports says City are considering rivalling Spurs. The race is also part of Spurs’ wider midfield rebuild, with reports that they could make up to seven or eight signings this summer.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →