Premier League clubs set for transfer battle over elite midfielders

Elite central midfielders will be top of the agenda for the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.

There is set to be a group of Premier League stars on the market and looking to move to bigger clubs ahead of next season.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all expected to be looking in this top bracket to improve themselves for 2026-27.

They will not come cheap either - with the going rate for a top central midfielder being around £100m, following the transfers of Declan Rice to Arsenal, and Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in previous seasons.

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It is still only March and there are several factors that will have a bearing on where these players end up; there are still games to play, Champions League places to be decided, and managers futures up in the air.

There is also a World Cup in the USA going on as the market opens this June.

Nevertheless, Sky Sports News has been looking into the latest on these midfielders' situations and how the market is shaping up, with just a few months to go before the summer transfer window opens for business.

Elliot Anderson

Monitoring: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

The England international is fast emerging as the most coveted midfielder of all those expected to be on the market this summer.

He is seen by many as the ideal No 8 midfielder and homegrown to boot, but also someone who can play as a No 6 or in a more advanced role.

Sky Sports News has been told Anderson is in no rush to sort his future out before the World Cup, and there have been no conversations yet with any intermediaries of other clubs. He still has three years remaining on his current Forest contract and the club are keen to keep hold of a player they see as integral to their future plans.

Anderson is ambitious but his loyalty right now is with Nottingham Forest and making sure they retain their Premier League status. His focus will then switch to what he hopes will be a call-up to his first major tournament with England in two months' time.

Manchester City are one club very keen on Anderson - but there would also need to be some movement in their midfield before they make a huge outlay in that position.

Bernardo Silva is out of contract and there have not been any talks about a new deal for him as it stands - but Anderson would not be seen as his replacement, so the futures of Matteo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez may have more influence.

City can also expect competition from their rivals United, who are huge admirers of Anderson and also see him as an ideal addition to their midfield. Arsenal too are expected to be in for top midfielders and Anderson is admired at the Emirates.

United are one club who would need to confirm who their next permanent manager is going to be to improve their position when it comes to Anderson - and the player may also want to seek assurances about Pep Guardiola's future at City given the noise this season.

Guardiola has insisted he is happy and has a contract until 2027 and any uncertainty did not dissuade Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi from moving to the Etihad in the January window.

Sandro Tonali

Monitoring: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

Sandro Tonali possibly leaving Newcastle in 2026 emerged in January amid interest from Juventus and others.

More recently, comments from his agent Giuseppe Riso suggested that Newcastle were, in fact, a stepping stone for him and he deserved to be playing Champions League football every season.

It therefore leaves a move to a bigger Premier League club as the likely next step in his career - and Arsenal and both Manchester clubs are believed to have Tonali high on their lists of possible midfielder targets for this summer.

In particular, Arsenal have widely been linked with Tonali for a few months now - however it is not as straightforward as the club being able to splash out a huge fee on the Italian.

Although they are not under any immediate financial threat with regards to PSR, Arsenal are expected to have to make some sales this summer in order to make any sizeable reinvestments in the first eleven.

Prising Tonali out of Newcastle will not be easy, nor cheap. He is arguably their best asset and could command a fee as high as a Rice or Caicedo. He has a contract on Tyneside until 2029 at least, or 2030 if a year extension is taken up.

Adam Wharton

Monitoring: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United

The England No 6 is another coveted by the top clubs since his emergence at Crystal Palace and many see him as an ideal partner for Anderson for England and beyond.

He is a specialist defensive midfielder, in that he can create from deep as well as do the destroying. His form this season has been slightly inconsistent amid Palace's troubles - but despite this he has run the midfield in a number of difficult games.

He is on the lists at Arsenal, Manchester City and United - and Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the past, although central midfield is understood to be less of a priority for them than other areas heading into the summer.

Wharton's logical next step is a club in the Champions League, so who qualifies for next season will have a bearing on where he moves, while a strong World Cup will also increase the interest and options at his disposal.

Palace are almost certain to need to sell another of their top assets this summer and Wharton is the next one, along with Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is worth good money to the south London club.

Palace will be a strong negotiating position too regarding a player they signed from under the noses of many clubs, from Blackburn back in the winter window of 2024.

Carlos Baleba

Monitoring: Manchester United, Manchester City

Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba was Manchester United's top midfield target in January and the club remain very interested in trying to sign him before the World Cup if they can.

Sky Sports News revealed in the winter window that they had made an inquiry with Brighton about how much it would cost to get him but they baulked at the £100m quote.

United hope that, with a drop off in his form, that valuation will not be as steep this time and they would like to make a statement signing, preferably in midfield, before the World Cup begins, and simultaneously as they announce their next permanent head coach.

Baleba is seen by United as an ideal No 6-type midfielder who can fill the void set to be left by the departing Casemiro and provide a strong foundation to build on for the rest of the window, potentially partnering him with a second new addition to the midfield later on.

Baleba is also on Manchester City's list this summer, however, and Arsenal have also been mentioned in some quarters.

However, Brighton are well aware of how good Baleba is and how good he could be, so are not about to do any favours for any club who want to sign him by reducing his price tag.

The south coast club believe they are in a strong negotiating position, especially with the 22-year-old still being under contract until at least 2028 or 2029 with an option.

Joao Gomes

Monitoring: Manchester United

Despite Wolves' struggles this season and likely relegation, Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes has impressed and is still coveted by top clubs.

Sky Sports News understands he remains on Manchester United's shortlist for new midfielders this summer and he may move up that list if the club are unable to land more preferred targets.

He is almost certain to leave Wolves given they are set to play Championship football and is likely to have more suitors than just United, especially abroad.

Gomes is likely to be a more affordable option than the other players mentioned in this list, with his Wolves contract expiring in 2030 although there is an option to extend it until 2031.

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle's No 6 is a little older than the other players in this list at 28 - but is still considered one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

His future at Newcastle has been speculated on for some time now, first amid interest in past windows from Manchester City and more recently reports elsewhere linking him with Manchester United.

Sky Sports News understands both clubs have admiration for the player but he would be further down their given their preference for a younger age profile.

He had been linked with Arsenal in the past as well, but that was more pronounced when Edu was the sporting director at the Emirates Stadium.

Given the interest in Tonali, who is younger, and the potential value Newcastle could get for the Italian, it makes it more difficult for Guimaraes to also leave St James' Park in the summer. He and Tonali are the heartbeat of the team and losing both would be catastrophic.