Pep Guardiola identifies €40 million Elliot Anderson alternative as 2026 transfer plans develop | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has seemingly identified a go-to back-up choice for club officials to pursue should they fail to sign Elliot Anderson in 2026.

With the Premier League giants seemingly spending time refining their medium-term midfield strategy, Anderson has consistently emerged as the club’s primary target for the next summer transfer window.

Multiple updates have confirmed Manchester City’s deep admiration for the Nottingham Forest star, with figures including sporting director Hugo Viana and head coach Pep Guardiola placing him at the top of their priority list.

However, Forest’s stance is likely to somewhat complicate matters, with Evangelos Marinakis valuing Anderson in excess of £100 million, in a clear reflection of the player’s high ceiling within the game. That reported figure has already prompted Etihad officials to explore other avenues, while keeping Anderson firmly in their sights.

Alongside valuation concerns, City will also be mindful of the wider Premier League market as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea continue to be linked with midfield moves in 2026, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton no longer viewed as the preferred option from the part of those at the Etihad Stadium.

Now, according to the information of Sky’s Sacha Tavolieri, Atalanta and Brazil international midfielder Ederson remains Pep Guardiola’s preferred alternative in his position should Manchester City fail to do a deal with Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson.

It is claimed that the Brazilian wants to leave his Serie A employers, while his price tag of between €30 million and €40 million makes him a significantly more affordable option when compared to the aforementioned Englishman.

Currently contracted until the summer of 2027, the report claims that Ederson’s agent is already working on a potential agreement this winter to fast-track an exit for his client at the player’s request.

If City were to accelerate interest in Ederson, it would offer several advantages with the 26-year-old holding experience in European competition, a strong physical profile, and positional flexibility. At a fraction of Anderson’s projected cost, Ederson also represents a more financially efficient option when City could be assessing multiple positions for reinforcement.

Nevertheless, Elliot Anderson remains the long-term ideal with one report claiming that City see the player as a talent “too good to pass by”, and one claim suggesting the player himself is giving priority to Manchester City should a move materialise.

For now, Etihad Stadium officials are preparing for a blockbuster push for Anderson in 2026, as well as a pragmatic, high-value alternative in Ederson should negotiations with Nottingham Forest reach an impasse.