Elliot Anderson may have cost Manchester City considerably months before they agreed to make him the most expensive British footballer ever. When he last played at the Etihad Stadium, in March, he let fly from 25 yards. A crisp, clean strike earned Nottingham Forest an unexpected point. Perhaps City would not have won the title anyway, but the loss of two gave them less leeway in the run-in.
Now Anderson forms a £116m statement of intent in their bid to regain their crown and begin Enzo Maresca’s reign as the Premier League’s greatest force. The World Cup has illustrated some of the reasons to buy him, beyond simply getting one of Manchester United’s transfer targets. Anderson has the passing range, over both short and long distances, the athleticism to cover ground, the ability to operate as both a No 6 and a No 8. In a tournament when few England players beyond Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have excelled, he has.
