Transfer news February 28th: ​​Man City and MU battle for Elliot Anderson, Chelsea determined to keep Cole Palmer.

The English football transfer market is heating up more than ever as the "big clubs" begin to reveal their strategic targets for the summer transfer window. The spotlight is on Manchester, with a direct battle for young talent Elliot Anderson, along with firm moves from Chelsea and Liverpool to protect their core players from financial pressure and European interest.

Manchester battle for "gem" Elliot Anderson

According to reliable sources from England, the upcoming summer transfer window will see a fierce competition between Manchester City and Manchester United. The common target of these two giants is Elliot Anderson, the 23-year-old midfielder who is shining brightly for Nottingham Forest.

Anderson's convincing performances have completely won over the scouting departments of both Manchester clubs. With his modern footballing mindset and impressive ability to control the game, the English midfielder is considered a quality addition to the midfield of both Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim. Currently, both Man City and Man Utd have included Anderson on their top transfer target lists.

Chelsea retain Cole Palmer despite significant financial losses.

In West London, Chelsea are demonstrating an extremely firm stance despite a less-than-favorable financial picture. The Stamford Bridge club recently reported a massive pre-tax loss of £355 million for the 2024-25 season. However, the "Blues" management insists that financial pressure will not alter their core personnel plans.

Specifically, Chelsea declared Cole Palmer – the brightest star in the current squad – as an "untouchable" player. The West London club will absolutely not put Palmer or any other strategically important players on the transfer market to balance their budget. This is seen as a strong commitment from Chelsea's owners regarding their ambition to return to the top.

Liverpool faces the challenge of retaining key players amidst interest from Serie A clubs.

At Anfield, Liverpool are also facing attractive offers from Italy. Inter Milan are closely monitoring midfielder Curtis Jones, who is about to enter the final year of his contract. The Serie A club are ready to make a decisive move if contract extension negotiations between Liverpool and Jones do not progress.

In other news, Juventus are also expressing their desire to acquire goalkeeper Alisson Becker. However, Liverpool immediately dashed the hopes of the Turin club. The "The Kop" management affirmed that Alisson remains irreplaceable in goal and they have absolutely no intention of letting the Brazilian goalkeeper leave in the summer of 2026.

Other notable market movements

The transfer market also saw a lot of important news related to veteran stars and rising young talents:

• Harry Maguire:Interim manager Michael Carrick has hinted at the possibility that Manchester United will extend the contract of the 32-year-old center-back instead of letting him leave on a free transfer this summer.
• Antoine Griezmann:At 34 years old, Griezmann's future at Atletico Madrid is uncertain. Coach Diego Simeone admits he is unsure about his player's future, amidst widespread rumors of a move to Orlando City in MLS.
• James Trafford:The Manchester City goalkeeper is Aston Villa's top target, although Newcastle, Tottenham, and West Ham are also closely monitoring him.
• Julian Alvarez:Barcelona's sporting director Deco has officially denied rumors of negotiations with the Argentinian striker, confirming there has been no contact with Atletico Madrid regarding the transfer.
• Tino Livramento:The Newcastle United defender is open to the possibility of leaving to join a Champions League team, with Man City being considered the most likely destination.

The 2026 summer transfer market promises to be full of unexpected variables as clubs begin to take strategic steps to optimize their squads for the new season.