Man City
Anderson: World Cup Comes First as Top Clubs Register Interest
Anderson insists World Cup focus as United, City and Bayern circle while Forest weigh options ahead.
Elliot Anderson has sought to separate the transfer talk from his immediate objectives, telling reporters that his attention is fixed on the World Cup and his England duties. The player faced questions ahead of England’s warmup with Japan and made clear that speculation about moves to big clubs is secondary to his national-team commitments.
“Obviously, we’ve got the World Cup this summer so all my eyes are on that,” Anderson said. “Playing for England, I’ve got the badge on now so that’s all I’m thinking about at the moment.”
Reports in recent months have linked Anderson with Manchester United, who were thought to have identified him as a priority, while Manchester City are also believed to be in the market. Anderson’s early-March Premier League strike against City was singled out in coverage as evidence of his quality. Bayern have also been named as potential suitors.
Nottingham Forest, the player’s club, stand to benefit from any sale. The club paid a reported $44.8 million for Anderson in July of 2024 and would substantially profit from a transfer. That financial background is likely to give Forest leverage in negotiations and the player appears likely to have options if Forest decide to sell.
The wider market for high-value midfielders is active ahead of the summer. Manchester United were reported to have made sudden progress on a potential approach for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, a midfielder who has also been linked with Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Real Madrid’s apparent hesitance over Rodri, after he talked up the idea of joining Los Blancos, has been identified as a factor that could broaden the market for a dominant midfield signing.
For now, Anderson intends to maintain his focus on England and the World Cup rather than on the speculation surrounding his club future.
Man City
Madrid’s calculation on Rodri: why admiration has not become a transfer push
Madrid cautious over Rodri: fitness worries, age and profile doubts despite respect shown in 2026 ..
Rodri’s recent comments have made a transfer question unavoidable, but Real Madrid appear cautious. “You can’t turn down one of the world’s best clubs,” he bluntly admitted this week . “It doesn’t matter if they arrive at the match in a good or bad moment, Real Madrid is always Real Madrid. The door is not closed.” From the player’s perspective the route is open, yet multiple reports in England and Spain suggest the club are not pressing to answer the invitation.
Spanish sports daily AS say the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner “does not feature in the club’s future plans.” The Times report that interest has “cooled” at the Bernabéu. Sources point to fitness and recruitment profile as the main explanations: Rodri suffered an ACL tear in September 2024 and, while he has returned to sustained action in 2026, concerns linger in Madrid.
The statistical contrast in availability before and after the ACL injury is stark. Days missed through injury rose from 64 to 107, with the percentage of days missed moving from 3.4% to 34%. Games missed climbed from 7 to 21, changing the % games missed from 2.3% to 38%. The midfielder has, however, started nine consecutive Premier League matches and featured in last weekend’s triumphant Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
AS note Rodri is “highly respected” internally and that past friction with Vinicius Junior has been relegated to the past; both players shared an embrace after City and Madrid met in the Champions League. Still, that admiration “doesn’t go far enough” to make him the priority signing over other profiles Madrid covet. The club are reportedly seeking a “centrocampista” who can do more than sit in front of the defence.
Historical caution is also part of the club’s mindset. When Jorge Valdano was sporting director he warned that three in five transfers are failures, a note Madrid appear to take seriously as they attempt to replace Toni Kroos. Names linked in reports include Enzo Fernández, Dominik Szoboszlai, Bruno Guimarães and Angelo Stiller, with differing profiles and age points guiding Madrid’s calculus. Frank Lampard’s comment on Fernández is recalled: “He is the most natural six out of a midfield which doesn’t have so many natural sixes.”
International
World Cup 2026: Confirmed absentees and the injury doubts shaping squads
Injury-hit squad news: key players ruled out or doubtful for the 2026 World Cup. Latest injury list.
The 2026 World Cup will proceed without several prominent players after a season marred by serious injuries. Some names are already confirmed out, while others remain long-term doubts as national coaches weigh fitness ahead of squad selection.
Argentina will be without one member of their 2022 winning squad this summer. Villarreal defender Juan Foyth has been sidelined until the beginning of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Fortunately, he is the only major concern for La Albiceleste as things stand.
Rodrygo is the first significant casualty for Brazil ahead of the tournament. The Real Madrid starlet and 37-cap international will be forced to watch on from the sidelines after tearing his ACL. Currently joined by compatriot Éder Militão in the Real Madrid treatment room, the injury-prone center back should make the World Cup squad if he can avoid further setbacks. Bruno Guimarães is another concern for the Seleção, but the Newcastle United midfielder should make his return after the March international break.
Alphonso Davies sparked fears following another injury in Bayern Munich’s 6–1 Champions League win over Atalanta, but Jesse Marsch has revealed the left back should return after the March international break. Davies’s recurring fitness issues mean he remains a doubt.
Croatia need Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić fit to over-perform. Gvardiol is expected to return before the campaign’s end while Kovačić is back in training after being unavailable since October.
England face selection headaches too. Levi Colwill and James Maddison have both been out for the season with ACL tears, and Jack Grealish will likely miss the remainder of the campaign with a foot issue.
Other notable situations include Boubacar Kamara’s season-ending knee problem, Marc-André ter Stegen’s hamstring layoff that has kept him out of Germany duty since June, and Takumi Minamino’s likely absence after tearing his ACL. Wataru Endo requires a lengthy recovery from an ankle injury.
Mexico carry multiple doubts and confirmed absentees, with Marcel Ruiz and Luis Ángel Malagón set to miss out with ACL injuries. Matthijs de Ligt and Justin Kluivert face races to return from back and knee problems respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo has been absent since the end of February with a hamstring complaint but is expected to recover in time. Several Spain internationals and the USMNT’s Cameron Carter-Vickers also remain in rehabilitation for serious injuries.
Arsenal
Opta Model Recasts 2025/26 Premier League Landscape After Weekend Upsets
Opta projections show Arsenal 97.77% to win; Man City 2.23%. Key European and relegation odds. 2025.
A weekend of shocks and dropped points has shifted the Opta supercomputer’s view of the 2025/26 Premier League season. With the top two away for the Carabao Cup final, teams below have been jockeying for position in the race for Champions League places.
Manchester United were held to a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth in controversial circumstances. Liverpool fell 2–1 to Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea suffered a 3–0 defeat to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Opta’s projection still favours Arsenal for the title. The model lists Arsenal on 70 current points with an expected points total of 84.80 and a title chance of 97.77%. Manchester City sit on 61 points with an expected 74.47 and a 2.23% title chance. The statisticians are not looking past Arsenal.
On Champions League qualification the supercomputer gives Manchester United (55 current points, expected 66.09) an 86.25% chance, while Aston Villa (51, expected 64.13) has a 66.68% chance. Liverpool are projected on 49 current points with an expected 60.53 and a 27.33% chance. Chelsea stand on 48 current points, expected 58.63, with a 13.39% chance. Brentford (45, expected 56.09) are at 3.64%; Everton (46, expected 54.96) 1.37%; Newcastle (42, expected 54.12) 0.73%; Brighton (43, expected 53.48) 0.53%.
Michael Carrick’s side are still in an imposing position with seven games left to play despite the Bournemouth draw. Unai Emery’s side remain heavy favourites for the final top-four spot, having done most of the early campaign work.
Arne Slot’s side retain a route back into the Champions League thanks in part to England’s strong coefficient. Liam Rosenior’s side face a difficult run and are projected for the Europa League.
At the bottom, Opta’s relegation table places Tottenham on 30 points with a 12.67% relegation chance (expected 40.63). Nottingham Forest are on 29 with a 32.11% chance (expected 38.58). West Ham are on 29 with a 48.44% chance (expected 37.73). Burnley (20, expected 26.34) have a 99.90% chance and Wolves (17, expected 24.94) a 99.94% chance. Sunday’s Tottenham v Nottingham Forest meeting is highlighted as pivotal for both clubs.
