Elliott Anderson has agreed a club-record deal to join Manchester City, but the move is not expected to be completed until after the next game against England, with manager Thomas Tuchel hoping to focus fully on the midfielder.
Elliott Anderson’s move to Manchester City will have to wait until after England’s next game (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
Elliott Anderson will have to wait until his record-breaking £116m move to Manchester City. England manager Thomas Tuchel is likely to allow Anderson to undergo a medical check while taking part in the World Cup.
But Tuchel made it clear that he did not want any distractions on the eve or day of the match, with England set to face Panama in their final group game on Saturday.
This could allow Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson to complete a medical check before England’s final. This is a record fee for a British player and also breaks City’s transfer record, with Anderson set to sign a five-year contract with a one-year extension.
Anderson was a target for City and Manchester United, but the blue team prevailed as the former Newcastle midfielder made his destination clear.
Anderson has informed Tuchel of his preferred destination and understands that transfer talk will not be a distraction from the World Cup.
Those words reassured Tuchel, who acknowledged that several players had discussed their futures on the eve of the tournament and that he had no intention of interfering with them unless it happened on match day. Tuchel also said that the FA’s medical staff could provide medical assistance.
Tuchel said: “Common sense should say we don’t want to do that on game day at -1. That’s the policy. And everything else, if it’s done quietly, if it’s done behind closed doors, if it’s done efficiently, we’re always happy to work with the players to make things clear.”
“I think the best thing we can have is clarity. If someone has the chance to change clubs and complete a transfer, we will not stand in the way, but of course it has to match our schedule and our aim to concentrate and prepare for the game.”
Manager Thomas Tuchel enacts legislation regarding mid-competition transfers (Image: Getty Images)
“The day before the game, let alone the two days before the game. We’ll see. We take it on a case-by-case basis. So far, no player has approached me. The doctors are ready to provide medical care if necessary.”
Anderson’s England teammate Jarrell Quansah also said the 23-year-old would not be distracted by the World Cup.
“I see a player who is totally focused on what he wants, but I think what he wants at the moment is to win the World Cup. Ultimately that’s the goal,” Quansah said.
“Obviously I’m not in his head or anything, but I’m sure he’s completely focused on winning the World Cup with England and you can’t stray too far from that and he knows that. But he’s a really focused young man and I think he’ll go straight to the top.”
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