The shock signing that could fix one of Manchester City’s biggest faults – if Spurs don’t get there firstplaceholder image
The shock signing that could fix one of Manchester City’s biggest faults – if Spurs don’t get there first | Getty Images
Man United and Man City are both looking to sign the same midfielder in the January transfer window.
It is a very important January window for both Manchester United and Man City, as the Red Devils are going through yet another managerial cycle, and Man City want to strengthen their squad to help them catch up to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola has also been linked to signing a midfielder, though, and reports are suggesting that City could hand their Manchester rivals a massive blow by going after one of their transfer targets.
Man City ‘make contact’ with Elliot Anderson
Anderson, however, may be time sensitive, as it is understood that Man City want to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder. Rodri has been very injury-prone, and Guardiola wants to bolster his midfield this winter. According to TeamTalk, Man City have ‘made contact’ with Anderson over a potential move for the England international.
City will be able to offer Anderson the guarantee of Champions League football, and the more realistic prospect of winning regular trophies in comparison to Man United, who are in a position of turmoil.
The 22-year-old is very highly regarded in the Premier League, and it has been suggested that he is a ‘regen’ of Steven Gerrard, in terms of his power on and off the ball. Former Premier League midfielder Joe Cole was the one to make the comparison. Cole said on TNT Sports: “It’s Steven Gerrard-level of power, it’s outrageous.”
Man United may have to turn to Baleba or Wharton instead
If Man City are to go after Anderson, it could leave Man United to go after Baleba or Wharton, both of whom are expected to be available in the transfer market in the summer.
United tried to sign Baleba in the summer, but Brighton slapped a huge £100m price tag on him, similar to what Forest did with Anderson, and so United will have to wait until the end of the season to potentially go after Baleba.
Wharton is also a possibility, but seeing as Crystal Palace lost Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in the summer, and the fact that they are going to lose Marc Guehi, either in January or the summer, they will likely be very reluctant to allow Wharton to leave, too, regardless of how much money it could bring in.
Both players will be expensive for United, but it seems a move that the Red Devils need to make, as they are desperate for a holding midfielder, especially seeing as Casemiro’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
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