Fabrizio Romano: Man City agree £116m deal for Elliot Anderson, Arsenal test Newcastle over Bruno Guimaraes

26 June 2026, 07:58 BST · 7 min read

Fabrizio Romano, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson — © IMAGO

By Cameron Smith, Digital Content Producer and accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020.

The most consequential update in Fabrizio Romano’s latest transfer briefing is Elliot Anderson’s move to Manchester City: Romano says the clubs have agreed a £116 million guaranteed fee, with no add-ons. That figure matters. Early reports had put the possible package as high as £130 million once bonuses were included, so the final structure is notably different.

Arsenal have also tested Newcastle United’s resolve over Bruno Guimaraes, while Manchester United are moving toward a deal that would send Andre Onana back to Trabzonspor. Romano’s other updates concern the uncertainty around Marcus Rashford and Real Madrid’s bid to bring Nico Paz back from Como.

Anderson deal puts a price on City’s priority

Manchester City had tracked Anderson for months, and Romano says the midfielder was their priority as far back as March. He reported the agreement on his YouTube channel, describing City as having been in the driving seat throughout. Manchester United, he added, were never prepared to match City’s offer.

Romano called the transfer complete and said Anderson would join a project led by Enzo Maresca, after Pep Guardiola had identified him as a key target. The player is expected to undergo a medical in the United States over the next few days. His contract terms have already been agreed; the remaining steps are the medical and the clubs’ formal announcement.

The fee is the detail to watch. Romano’s latest information is £116 million guaranteed, without add-ons. Nottingham Forest sources had initially suggested the total could climb to £130 million including extras, but that is not the figure Romano now expects City to pay.

For City, this is a major commitment to one of England’s most highly regarded midfielders. For anyone tracking the market, the gap between the early package estimate and the reported guaranteed fee is a reminder that headline transfer figures can obscure how much clubs are actually committing upfront.

© IMAGO - Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest

Arsenal approach rejected by Newcastle

Arsenal have contacted both Guimaraes’s representatives and Newcastle to explore a summer transfer, confirming reports that included earlier reporting by Craig Hope. Romano says the London club hoped to build a deal worth about £55 million. Newcastle rejected that approach and have made clear they’re not looking to sell their captain at that price.

There’s no advanced negotiation yet. Guimaraes is leaving the matter in Newcastle’s hands and remains respectful of the club, according to Romano. Whether Arsenal return with a better offer—or whether the situation changes in the coming weeks—remains open.

The distinction matters: Arsenal have made an approach, but that doesn’t mean Newcastle have entered talks over a sale.

Onana is expected back at Trabzonspor

Manchester United have told Onana and his representatives that the goalkeeper isn’t in the club’s plans for next season, Romano says. United manager Michael Carrick was involved in that decision. Onana had been expected to return from his loan spell at Trabzonspor for pre-season, but the club’s clarity prompted talks with the Turkish side to resume.

A verbal agreement is now in place for another loan. Trabzonspor were pleased with Onana’s performances and want him back; they’ll pay United a loan fee, with bonuses and add-ons that could take the overall package to roughly €1.5 million to €2 million, depending on performance clauses. The paperwork and final contract details are still outstanding, so the deal isn’t formally complete yet.

Rashford links to Tottenham remain speculative

Romano says there’s no concrete or advanced discussion between Tottenham Hotspur and Marcus Rashford, despite the rumours circulating online. Rashford’s future at United is still unresolved after his loan at Barcelona, and the club must decide whether he stays or leaves. Other clubs could yet enter the picture, but Romano says he knows of no serious negotiations with Tottenham at this stage.

He also considers a Barcelona return unlikely, while expecting Rashford to leave United permanently before the transfer window closes. The route to that outcome is still unclear.

© IMAGO - Marcus Rashford was on loan at Barcelona last summer

Real Madrid ready to activate Nico Paz clause

Real Madrid have told Como they’re prepared to trigger the €9 million buy-back clause for Nico Paz, Romano says. The club has also told Como that keeping the midfielder permanently would require a valuation of €60 million.

That €60 million figure doesn’t necessarily describe a straightforward transfer. Romano says the clubs could agree to a different arrangement involving only part of Paz’s economic rights, while retaining that overall valuation. No final deal has been reached.

The key question for Nico Paz is playing time. Como missed the chance to complete a deal on Thursday, but talks remain active, and Real Madrid have given the Italian club until Monday to reach an agreement. A decision is expected by then.

Paz is open to staying at Como. That doesn’t mean he’s given up on playing for Real Madrid; he believes the competition for his position there is currently too crowded to offer him enough minutes this season. For a young player weighing development against a return to a bigger club, that concern carries real weight.

Here’s the complication: any permanent transfer could include a revised buy-back clause, giving Real Madrid a route to bring Paz back later. The clubs may discuss changing those terms, though the details—and whether they can agree—aren’t yet clear. The weekend talks will determine whether Como can keep him and on what conditions.

By Monday, Paz’s next-season destination should be settled. The decision will turn on more than whether Real Madrid want him back; it will also depend on whether Como can offer the regular football he believes he needs.

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Written by

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.

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Manchester City Agree £116m Elliot Anderson Deal as Arsenal Test Newcastle for Bruno Guimaraes