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Romano confirms Man City close in on major midfield deal as final talks begin

Manchester City are reportedly growing increasingly confident of completing a deal for Elliot Anderson, with the transfer now moving into its final stages after weeks of behind-the-scenes work.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City believe they can get the agreement done, with a new round of talks expected to take place.

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If everything goes to plan, the England midfielder would undergo a medical in the United States before officially joining the club.

That detail is important because Anderson is currently involved with England at the World Cup, meaning any medical would likely need to be arranged around international commitments.

It also shows how far City have pushed the process. Clubs do not usually prepare medical plans unless there is real confidence that a deal can be finalised.

A statement midfield signing from Man City

City’s interest is easy to understand.

Anderson has become one of the most exciting English midfielders in the Premier League, combining energy, ball-carrying quality and maturity beyond his years.

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He is the type of player who can fit into a possession-heavy team while still adding bite and directness.

Earlier reports from The Guardian suggested Man City were already favourites for the midfielder despite Manchester United’s interest.

That makes this move feel like another example of City acting decisively when they identify a priority target.

Premier League giants are ready to rebuild midfield

For Man City, this is not just about adding depth.

The midfield has needed refreshing, especially with key players ageing or facing uncertain futures.

Anderson would bring a younger English core to the squad and could be developed into a long-term starter.

The fee is expected to be huge, but City clearly believe his ceiling justifies the investment.

In my opinion, this is the kind of signing that could look expensive now but smart in two or three years if he develops as expected.

The deal is not officially complete, but City are pushing hard, confidence is growing, and the next round of talks could prove decisive.

Report: Man City eye £70m defensive deal as backline rebuild begins

The post Romano confirms Man City close in on major midfield deal as final talks begin appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bellingham or Rogers? How England could line up for World Cup 2026 opener vs Croatia

England start their World Cup 2026 campaign tonight with their Group L clash against Croatia at 9pm.

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The big team news questions mainly surround Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers for the attacking midfield role, while Thomas Tuchel also has decisions to make in central defence, and wide on the left.

While we think there’s a serious case for Tuchel to go for form over names by picking Aston Villa star Rogers over Real Madrid Galactico Bellingham, it’s perhaps hard to imagine the Three Lions boss taking a big gamble like that for the toughest opponent in the group.

??????? We're all agreed this should be England's first XI for this World Cup, right? ? pic.twitter.com/wBow9ROpLB

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) June 12, 2026

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Likewise, we suspect Tuchel will also opt for experience at the back, with John Stones over Ezri Konsa alongside Marc Guehi in central defence.

England predicted line up to take on Croatia

See below for prediction for how England could line up against Croatia this evening…

England look strong with this line up, but there’s always the possibility that Bukayo Saka’s fitness could be a problem, perhaps meaning a starting spot for Noni Madueke.

Saka has been a world class performer for Arsenal and England down the years, but he has had a few more fitness problems after playing so many games in recent times.

On the other flank, Anthony Gordon has done well after recently becoming more of a key player for England, but Marcus Rashford also goes into this tournament in fine form after a strong loan spell at Barcelona.

The Manchester United outcast is another player who might also be worth choosing for his experience, but we expect Gordon is slightly ahead in the pecking order right now due to his direct style, pace, and work-rate.

The likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice are surely certain to start whatever happens, but it will be interesting to see if they play the full 90 minutes in the blistering heat that has been touted as a bit of an issue in the US.

What do you make of the possible England line up and are you confident about the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Bellingham or Rogers? How England could line up for World Cup 2026 opener vs Croatia appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Premier League teams fear Anderson deal could blow up summer midfielder market

Elliot Anderson is one of England’s most in demand players, and his move could have serious ripple effects.

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Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph is today reporting that Premier League teams are worried that Elliot Anderson’s impending move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City for more than £100m is going to inflate prices in this window, particularly for central midfielders.

Crop of English midfield stars could blow market open

Any Premier League team who wants to sign a central midfielder – and that likely includes Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U – would therefore like to get a deal done before Anderson’s incoming mega-fee resets the market.

The likes of Adam Wharton and Alex Scott are being heavily linked with moves in the months to come, and the fees commanded by Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are likely to rise significantly if Anderson makes his big money move as expected later this summer.

As it stands, Chelsea’s signings of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez for more than £100m each are the benchmarks for elite players with top level experience moving at a young age. When it finally happens, Anderson’s move is expected to match that – and potentially even beat it.

In other news…

PSG and Arsenal are the two teams most strongly linked with breakout star of the World Cup, Ayyoud Bouaddi. They will have to break records to sign him, however.

Ismael Saibari is closing in on a move to join Bayern Munich, with a medical set to take place in the USA in the coming days.

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The post Premier League teams fear Anderson deal could blow up summer midfielder market appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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