Man City
Why City Are Best Placed to Win the Elliot Anderson Transfer
Man City may have the advantage in the Elliot Anderson chase as United signal a strict price cap…
Elliot Anderson has emerged as one of the summer’s most contested midfield targets, with Manchester City and Manchester United reportedly leading the chase for the Nottingham Forest player. The 23-year-old England international is valued highly by his club and the wider market, and the price being discussed could decide where he lands.
Forest are understood to be asking in excess of £100 million, with some outlets placing the fee as high as £125 million, a figure that would match the British transfer record set last summer by Liverpool for Alexander Isak. Dollar conversions cited in reporting place those numbers at roughly $135.1 million and $168.9 million respectively.
BBC Sport reports that Manchester United have taken a cautious stance, insisting they will “not overpay” for Anderson or other targets this summer. The club would reportedly “won’t pursue” the midfielder if a fee sits around £120 million. United’s hierarchy is said to feel that “Every player’s value has a cap, no matter how well regarded they are.” The same reporting adds the club’s leaders are “confident” there are other options available who can “improve what they already have.”
That financial caution is compounded by uncertainty around the Old Trafford dugout. Michael Carrick remains the frontrunner to continue in the role after overseeing the club’s recent resurgence and return to the Champions League, but no appointment has been confirmed. The lack of clarity over the manager could make recruitment more difficult.
Those factors leave Manchester City in a strong position. City are repeatedly prepared to meet high fees for targets and have a recent record of prevailing in tight transfer races, with examples cited including Marc Guéhi and Antoine Semenyo. Even if a record fee is not required, City’s capacity to offer immediate prospects of silverware under Pep Guardiola makes them an attractive destination for a player seeking quick success.
Anderson’s eventual destination may come down to whether Forest’s asking price and United’s self-imposed limits align, and whether a managerial decision at Old Trafford is reached early in the summer.
Arsenal
Gameweek 9 verdicts: Chelsea edge United, Arsenal stun Liverpool
A full set of Gameweek 9 predictions, including Chelsea vs Man Utd and Liverpool vs Arsenal.
Gameweek 9 brings a stacked Premier League schedule, with several meetings that carry clear weight in the early-season picture. The most eye-catching fixtures are Chelsea against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool’s home clash with Arsenal, while there are also plenty of tight contests elsewhere across the division.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are tipped to come through 2-1 against a Manchester United side under pressure after back-to-back three-goal defeats to Como and Bournemouth. Michael Carrick remains in charge for the trip to west London after talks with Bruno Fernandes and the rest of the squad, but this feels like a critical test. Chelsea have their own issues, yet home advantage and the absence of João Pedro could still matter in a narrow contest.
Bournemouth’s strong run is expected to continue with a 2-1 win over Leeds United. The Cherries have produced a striking sequence of results across multiple competitions, and with Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson supported by Eli Junior Kroupi’s return, they look well placed to extend that momentum.
Other calls point to draws for Brentford against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United against Everton, while Coventry and Sunderland are forecast to cancel each other out. Hull are backed to edge Ipswich 1-0, and Manchester City are favoured to beat Brighton 3-2 in what could be the weekend’s most open game.
Tottenham are projected to keep improving with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, while Aston Villa are expected to defeat Fulham 3-0 after their recent uptick in form. The standout result, though, is at Anfield, where Arsenal are predicted to win 2-1 after Liverpool’s recent consistency meets a team looking to respond after a cup setback. The final matchup, Newcastle versus Everton, is also forecast to finish level.
Man City
Howard Backs Sullivan to Progress at Man City Despite Club Uncertainty
Tim Howard says Cavan Sullivan can still thrive at Man City despite the club’s legal uncertainty.
Tim Howard believes Cavan Sullivan will continue to develop at Man City regardless of the uncertainty surrounding the club’s legal situation.
City are facing the prospect of major punishment after being found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations over nearly a decade, from 2009 to 2018. The case centres on “sham” contracts and “misstated accounts” that are said to have reduced costs by £900 million ($1.2 billion).
Even so, Howard is adamant the situation will not derail Sullivan’s rise. The USMNT goalkeeper and Premier League broadcast analyst has watched the teenager move quickly through the game, and he sees no reason that momentum should slow down now.
Sullivan signed his first professional contract with the Union at 14 in May 2024. That deal included an agreement to move to Man City. Two months later, he made history by becoming the youngest player in MLS history. This season, he has continued to produce at a high level, recording seven goals and 14 assists in 20 regular season starts.
Howard made his case on his podcast with Landon Donovan, Unfiltered Soccer. “They’ve bought a lot of players, given the financial situation, but they also know how to produce players,” Howard said. “They know how to get the best out of players. Their players don’t fail a lot.”
He highlighted Oscar Bobb, who spent three years developing in the blue side of Manchester before joining Fulham in January on a five-and-a-half year deal worth £27 million ($36 million). Bobb has since become a regular starter.
Howard also referenced Cole Palmer, who rose through Man City’s youth ranks before moving to Chelsea in 2023 on a seven-year deal reportedly worth £42.5 million ($56.8 million). Palmer has since become the face of the Blues.
“Their players don’t fail, so he is not going to fail there because there is uncertainty,” Howard reiterated.
City could still face a points deduction severe enough to push them into the relegation zone and down to the Championship. An expulsion from the Premier League could also lead to the EFL accepting them into the Championship. Howard’s view is that, whatever happens next, Sullivan should still benefit from the move.
Aston Villa
Premier League Matchday 6 verdict: who impressed, who unravelled, and who merely survived
Matchday 6 mixed sharp wins, poor finishing and controversy across the Premier League table.
Matchday 6 left the table untouched in one sense, but the performances were impossible to ignore. In the post-verdict era, points can feel fragile, yet the evidence on the pitch still matters. City’s second-half surge past a faltering Liverpool side may be revisited later, but Erling Haaland’s strike and Rayan Cherki’s invention are already part of the record.
Sunderland, deprived of key figures, were left with too little invention and too little calm in possession. Régis Le Bris was right to question the side’s lack of “quality or composure” after they controlled much of the ball but found no answers without Brian Brobbey. Bournemouth also remain short of rewards, and their latest defeat under Marco Rose brought another reminder that encouraging spells mean little without a first win. “The last games we had some good performances,” the incoming manager admitted, “but today we struggled.”
Manchester United’s problems continue to widen. Michael Carrick’s side were exposed again, this time by Tottenham Hotspur, and the mood around Old Trafford is growing less forgiving. Carrick’s own assessment was blunt: “I understand the disappointment,” he shrugged, “the reality is what it is.”
Elsewhere, Newcastle’s 4–1 defeat at Coventry City was harsh on the chances they created, yet costly for the gaps they left behind. Liverpool’s collapse after Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal became the major talking point in a contest Andoni Iraola felt was shaped by the referee, while Crystal Palace were celebrated after a win that owed plenty to a generous interpretation of events from Pierre Sage.
There were also hard-earned points for Everton, Hull, Aston Villa, Brentford, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Some wins were built on control, others on stubbornness, and a few on little more than survival. On a weekend where margins dominated, several teams learned how thin the line remains between progress and frustration.
