Manchester City’s five‑signing summer plan hinges on Elliot Anderson

Manchester City are planning up to five summer signings ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with 23‑year‑old England midfielder Elliot Anderson leading the rebuild. A club‑record £116 million deal with Nottingham Forest has been agreed, and Anderson will complete his medical in New York City while Enzo Maresca’s appointment as manager follows Pep Guardiola’s May departure.

Director of football Hugo Viana is steering the transfer strategy, with journalist Dean Jones reporting that a second central midfielder is likely to join after Anderson. Bernardo Silva is set to leave Manchester City on a free transfer to Real Madrid on July 1, opening space in midfield for the incoming players.

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is among the names City have studied closely, although Tottenham Hotspur is understood to be leading the pursuit of the Italy international. At full‑back, Chelsea’s Malo Gusto is firmly on City’s radar, though he is not currently a priority target.

Manchester City are also searching for a new attacker to add depth and versatility in the final third. A goalkeeper is similarly expected to arrive as part of the broader squad planning ahead of the new season.

The scale of the activity underscores the significant rebuild Viana is overseeing after Guardiola’s exit. Viana’s recruitment philosophy has traditionally favoured patience and precision rather than volume.

Targeting five signings in a single window would represent a departure from that model and signal the ambition required for the overhaul. Whether all five arrivals are completed before the transfer window closes remains to be seen, but Anderson is positioned as the first step in a broader plan to spread investment across every area of the pitch.