Uncertainty surrounding Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium has been growing, with sources indicating that no final decision yet announced over whether he will remain in charge beyond this campaign.
Despite that position, City insiders remain convinced the club are in a strong position to land the Nottingham Forest midfielder, who is valued at around £100 million and has also attracted interest from Manchester United.
Flashscore understands City have held a long-standing belief that they would ultimately beat their rivals to Anderson’s signature, and there is growing confidence behind the scenes that the England midfielder is still destined for the Etihad.
Forest are not actively pushing Anderson towards the exit door, but the club would be willing to sanction a sale at the right price as interest intensifies ahead of the summer transfer window.
The biggest complication surrounding the move remains Guardiola’s future.
There has been increasing anticipation around Manchester City that Guardiola could depart after this season, with expectations growing that an announcement on his future may arrive in the coming days or weeks.
Former City coach Enzo Maresca is viewed as a leading candidate to replace him if that scenario unfolds.
However, at this stage, Anderson is still considered most likely to join City regardless of who is in the dugout next season.
January signings Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo were signed without any guarantee Guardiola would remain in charge this season, and sources indicate that Manchester City retain confidence in their ability to still attract the best names and compete at the top of English football for some time.
They believe Anderson’s profile is perfectly suited to the next phase of the squad’s evolution, with the club viewing him as a player capable of being a major figure for both club and country ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The transfer saga has been building steadily over recent months but is expected to accelerate quickly once the current campaign concludes and the summer market officially opens.
