{"id":570,"date":"2026-03-29T14:48:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T14:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=570"},"modified":"2026-03-29T14:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T14:48:27","slug":"arsenal-eye-late-hijack-of-man-citys-top-midfield-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=570","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal eye late hijack of Man City\u2019s top midfield target"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-main\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!--post-header--><\/p>\n<div id=\"post-feat-img\" class=\"left relative\" itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image ewww_webp_lazy_load\" alt=\"Arsenal FC\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg\" src-webp=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg.webp\" srcset-webp=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-600x338.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-768x432.jpg.webp 768w\"\/><img width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"Arsenal FC\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-145.jpg\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"1200\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"675\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!--post-feat-text-->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!--post-feat-img--><\/p>\n<section class=\"social-sharing-top\">\n<p><span class=\"fb-but1\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-facebook-f\"\/><\/span><span class=\"social-text\">Share<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.open('http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Arsenal eye late hijack of Man City\u2019s top midfield target -&amp;url=https:\/\/sixsports.in\/arsenal-eye-late-hijack-of-man-citys-top-midfield-target\/', 'twitterShare', 'width=626,height=436'); return false;\" title=\"Share This Post\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"twitter-but1\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-x-twitter\"\/><\/span><span class=\"social-text\">Share<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"whatsapp-but1\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-whatsapp fa-2\"\/><\/span><span class=\"social-text\">Share<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pinterest-but1\"><i class=\"fa-brands fa-pinterest-p\"\/><\/span><span class=\"social-text\">Share<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"email-but\"><i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-2\"\/><\/span><span class=\"social-text\">Email<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><!--social-sharing-top--><\/p>\n<div class=\"sx-entity-card\">\n<div class=\"sx-entity-top\">\n<div class=\"sx-entity-logo\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"345\" height=\"350\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ARSENAL\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/arsenal_logo.avif\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"345\" height=\"350\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/arsenal_logo.avif\" alt=\"ARSENAL\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"sx-entity-description\">\n<p>            Arsenal is one of England\u2019s most prestigious football clubs, competing in the Premier League and European competitions like the UEFA Champions League. Known for its attacking style, rich history, and passionate fanbase, Arsenal has won numerous league titles and domestic\u2026            <a class=\"sx-entity-readmore\" href=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/team\/arsenal\/\"><br \/>\n                Read More about ARSENAL\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Arsenal are not walking away quietly. Even after falling short against Man City in the Carabao Cup final, the mood inside Mikel Arteta\u2019s camp is far from deflated. If anything, it has sharpened their focus. With a view to the future, one transfer market opportunity in particular has captured the Gunners full attention.<\/p>\n<p>That opportunity revolves around Elliot Anderson, a name steadily gaining traction across the <strong>Premier League<\/strong>. While City remain favourites, Arsenal believe this race is not over yet.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arsenal-quietly-push-while-man-city-lead-the-race\">Arsenal quietly push while Man City lead the race<\/h2>\n<p>There is no denying that City have done the groundwork. Conversations have already taken place, and confidence remains high on their side. Pep Guardiola\u2019s squad rebuild is well underway, especially in midfield, where changes are expected following departures and long-term planning.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Arsenal are moving with intent behind the scenes. They may not be leading the race, but they are close enough to sense hesitation. That alone is enough for Arteta to stay alert. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamtalk.com\/arsenal\/arsenal-sense-opportunity-steal-man-city-target-anderson\">As per the reports<\/a>sources close to the situation suggest that while Man City feel comfortable, nothing has been finalised at this stage.<\/p>\n<p>This is where Arsenal see their opening. The club has shown before that it is willing to act decisively in midfield, most notably with the signing of Declan Rice. That deal was not just about quality but control. Anderson, in a different profile, offers similar long-term value.<\/p>\n<p>What works in <strong>Arsenal\u2019s<\/strong> favour is timing. If negotiations stall or priorities shift even slightly at City, the Gunners are ready to accelerate. They are not chasing blindly. They are waiting for the exact moment to strike.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\"Arsenal FC\" class=\"wp-image-188059 ewww_webp_lazy_load\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-768x432.jpg 768w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg\" src-webp=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg.webp\" srcset-webp=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-600x338.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-768x432.jpg.webp 768w\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg\" alt=\"Arsenal FC\" class=\"wp-image-188059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arsenal-FC-4-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-price-pressure-and-a-growing-list-of-contenders\">Price, pressure and a growing list of contenders<\/h2>\n<p>Any move for Anderson will not come cheap. Nottingham Forest are under no pressure to sell and are expected to demand a significant fee, potentially exceeding \u00a390 million. That figure reflects both his development and the market reality for young midfielders.<\/p>\n<p>Man City remain in pole position with their financial strength and structured planning. Anderson is a natural fit for them given their need to freshen the midfield after some key departures. He fits with their style and long-term outlook, which is why confidence remains high in their camp.<\/p>\n<p>However, this is not a two-club race. Newcastle United are monitoring the situation closely. A potential reshuffle in their midfield could open the door for a return move. Interest in players like Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes could force decisions that reshape their transfer strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal are aware of this competition, but they are not backing down. Their recruitment in recent windows shows a shift toward calculated aggression. They are no longer reactive in the market. They are proactive, even when the odds are not fully in their favour.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-this-move-could-define-arsenal-s-next-step\">Why this move could define Arsenal\u2019s next step<\/h2>\n<p>From Arsenal\u2019s perspective, this is about more than just adding depth. It is about sustaining momentum. The current squad has pushed hard across multiple competitions, but maintaining that level requires constant evolution.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson represents a different kind of investment. He is not the finished product, but that is exactly the point. Arteta values adaptability, intelligence and work rate, qualities that can be shaped within his system. In a demanding <strong>football<\/strong> environment, those traits often matter more than instant star power.<\/p>\n<p>The reality remains clear. City are still leading, and it would take a shift for Arsenal to pull ahead. But transfer windows are rarely straightforward. Deals change, priorities evolve, and opportunities appear where none existed before.<\/p>\n<p>Arsenal are not hoping for luck. They are positioning themselves for possibility. And sometimes, in the chaos of the summer window, that is all a club needs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"preferred-source-box\" style=\"margin-top:40px;padding:25px;background: #1865b4;border:1px solid #ddd;border-radius:8px;text-align:center;\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:24px;margin-bottom:10px;color:#fff;\">ENJOYED THIS STORY?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-size:16px;margin-bottom:20px;color:#fff;\">\n<p>                    Add Six Sports as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting\n                <\/p>\n<p>                    <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" style=\"max-width:260px;height:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goal.com\/img\/google-trusted-source\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.webp\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goal.com\/img\/google-trusted-source\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.webp\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" style=\"max-width:260px;height:auto;\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"fe-author-box\" itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\">\n<div class=\"fe-author-avatar\">\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/138c1da500ea6195cad6811e69c8d1840fbf0fbbfbeb757b9a66fba179d7ac31?s=200&amp;d=mm&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-100 photo\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/138c1da500ea6195cad6811e69c8d1840fbf0fbbfbeb757b9a66fba179d7ac31?s=100&amp;d=mm&amp;r=g\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/138c1da500ea6195cad6811e69c8d1840fbf0fbbfbeb757b9a66fba179d7ac31?s=100&amp;d=mm&amp;r=g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/138c1da500ea6195cad6811e69c8d1840fbf0fbbfbeb757b9a66fba179d7ac31?s=200&amp;d=mm&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-100 photo\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" decoding=\"async\"\/>    <\/div>\n<div class=\"fe-author-content\">\n<h2 class=\"fe-author-name\" itemprop=\"name\">\n<p>                Deepanjali Bhardwaj<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"fe-author-bio\" itemprop=\"description\">\n<p>                Deepanjali Bhardwaj is a Sports Writer at Six Sports, covering both football and cricket with a focus on match developments, player performances, and key talking points across the two sports. Her work combines timely reporting with clear analysis, helping readers stay informed about major matches, tournaments, and emerging storylines in the football and cricket landscape.&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nThrough her coverage at Six Sports, Deepanjali contributes match reports, analytical pieces, and feature stories that highlight important moments, team strategies, and standout player performances across domestic and international competitions.            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mvp-org-wrap\" itemprop=\"publisher\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\">\n<div class=\"mvp-org-logo\" itemprop=\"logo\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"145\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Six-Sports.png\" src-webp=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Six-Sports.png.webp\" class=\"ewww_webp_lazy_load\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"145\" src=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Six-Sports.png\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/sixsports.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Six-Sports.png\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!--mvp-org-logo--><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Six Sports\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><!--mvp-org-wrap--><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!--posts-nav-link--><\/p>\n<div class=\"mentioned-article-block\">\n<h3 class=\"mentioned-title\">Mentioned in this Article<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!--comments-button--><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!--comments-->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share Share Share Share Email Arsenal is one of England\u2019s most prestigious football clubs, competing in the Premier League and European competitions like the UEFA Champions League. Known for its attacking style, rich history, and passionate fanbase, Arsenal has won numerous league titles and domestic\u2026 Read More about ARSENAL Arsenal are not walking away quietly. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=570"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}