John Barnes on Elliot Anderson: He’s 100% worth £120m!

The World Cup is in full swing and England got off to the perfect start last night, defeating Croatia 4-2 in Dallas. One of the star performers for the Three Lions was Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is perhaps the most high-profile transfer rumour doing the rounds. 

We asked our World Cup Ambassador John Barnes about Anderson, amid a reported £120m bid from Manchester City.

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The 23-year-old former Newcastle graduate looked at home once again in the middle of the park for the Three Lions last night, creating a goal for his midfield partner Jude Bellingham, as well as dominating the possession for Thomas Tuchel's side.

It's no surprise to see Anderson being coveted by the biggest teams in the Premier League and we asked Barnes if the reported £120m fee was good value in the current transfer market.

“Well you’d pay that for Rodri or any other top defensive midfielder. Elliot Anderson is a Rodri type player, so 100% you’d pay £120 million.

If you’re Arsenal and already have Declan Rice and then Elliot Anderson became available, then you probably wouldn’t see £120 million as value for money. However, if Manchester City needs him, then they’d be prepared to pay that sort of money. I think he’d be worth that sort of money for Manchester City, but not Arsenal for example.

As a holding midfielder, he’s one of the best in the Premier League. However, as we’ve seen with Declan Rice at Arsenal, there’s an expectation for him to get forward and contribute with assists and goals, which isn’t right.

Nowadays, Sergio Busquets would be worth £100 million, but would you be expecting him to chip in with goals? No.”

John Barnes

That £120m fee could well be heading higher should Anderson continue to star on the world stage with England, which could ignite a bidding war for the hot prospect.

We also asked Barnes about a current England team mate and potential future team mate of Anderson, in Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, who has again been linked with a move to Anderson's old club, Newcastle United.

How did John believe he performed when given the chance last season and does he believe he’s a keeper with a big future?

“He is a keeper with a big future. Newcastle’s problems have stemmed from the way they play and I don’t believe James Trafford will come in and necessarily improve that, but he’s a very good goalkeeper. Overall, I do believe he’d be a good signing for Newcastle.”

John Barnes