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The intricate inner workings of Manchester City’s marquee transfer reveal one academy graduate’s future was placed on the negotiating table.
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The financial mechanics behind the incoming midfielder’s transfer were put together over the course of the last few weeks.
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Whilst Rico Lewis was not ultimately placed into an agreement, the defender’s future remains in doubt.
Hugo Viana and Manchester City mentioned the possibility of selling Rico Lewis to Nottingham Forest, during talks between the two clubs over a deal for Elliot Anderson.
With the Pep Guardiola era now cataloged into the history books following a £17 million legal settlement package finalised with Chelsea for Enzo Maresca, Sporting Director Hugo Viana has moved at speed to hand his new manager a marquee welcoming present.
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City stunned the domestic market by locking down a club record-shattering package for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, ensuring Maresca’s engine room now possesses a physical, modern ball-carrier ahead of the Premier League start.
However, constructing a transfer operation of such magnitude required financial ingenuity to insulate the club against profit and sustainability rules, with Viana having reviewed the first-team roster to identify financial trade-offs that could facilitate arrivals without too much of a monetary outlay.
Door opened for Rico Lewis exit
And according to MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Rico Lewis was mentioned in negotiations surrounding Elliot Anderson with Nottingham Forest, who are said to be ‘still keeping an eye on his situation’ following their interest in the versatile defender last summer.
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On the subject of Anderson, it is further pointed out that he will become the most expensive British footballer of all time through the £116 million deal, taking home up to £300,000-per-week – in line with the overall package handed to Marc Guehi in January.
Despite a medical taking place in the United States, the report points out that it is unlikely that Manchester City will push to conduct any in-house media around the deal until Anderson himself has arrived in the North-West after his post-tournament time off.
How Man City’s summer transfer market looks
The 21-year-old academy graduate has found himself in a delicate position following a season of limited opportunities, and with Forest monitoring his situation, Viana could revisit the City Ground relationship later in the window.
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Nottingham Forest’s continued admiration for the versatile defender could offer Manchester City a lucrative escape route if they choose to cash in on homegrown talent, should Lewis find fresh opportunities hard to come by elsewhere in the game.
Manchester City place £30M price-tag on Rico Lewis ahead of mass summer exodus
Simultaneously, finalising a £300,000-per-week financial package for Anderson allows the club to pivot their attention toward resolving outstanding holes before the squad reconvenes for pre-season on 20 July.
City are holding an interest in Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto, whilst also managing doubts over a number of their first-team midfielders such as Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders, and finalising contract renewals for the likes of Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol.
