Manchester City have agreed a £116 million deal with Nottingham Forest for midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the 23-year-old expected to complete his move after a medical in the coming days. According to former coach Ange Postecoglou, incoming City boss Enzo Maresca will love working with the player.
Postecoglou praises Anderson's potential
Postecoglou, who worked briefly with Anderson at Forest last season, told ITV: "He's outstanding. From the outside you know there's a talented player but when you work with him on a daily basis you realise that he's got two or three levels in him still. He's very, very focused as a young player, he can probably play every midfield position in a three."
The former Newcastle youngster has impressed at international level under England manager Thomas Tuchel. Postecoglou noted: "I think England suits him with a fixed position. At Forest he was trying to do everything at times because he has that capability. From the moment he got into the England set-up, he's been really disciplined. Thomas Tuchel really trusts him and when you gain the trust of a manager, especially at international level... and he's made a big move now to City. He's definitely an Enzo Maresca player, he will love having him in that group."
Gundogan backs Anderson as team player
Ilkay Gundogan, now at Galatasaray, also praised Anderson despite the hefty price tag. "I think he has proven it, especially last season with Nottingham Forest," he told ESPN. "He played an incredible season, he had some outstanding performances - also against City - and he had a quite impressive development over the years. I'm quite sure that he will make a great addition to the City squad."
Gundogan added: "I wouldn't say he's the big name. He's someone that everyone knows but I don't think that they're signing him as a superstar, they are signing him as a team player. He's expensive but this is the Premier League, where the best play. It's quite normal now. The sums are still huge or sound huge but it's now the market. People pay it and they have to pay it for a certain quality. I'm quite sure that the people in Manchester will be very happy because when you watch him play you feel like it is someone that sacrifices everything for the team and that's what you want to have as a teammate."
