How do you replace the irreplaceable?
That’s the unenviable task facing the recruitment team at Forest as they stare down the likelihood of Elliot Anderson being prised away for a fee north of £100m. Manchester City seems his probable destination.
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That giant sum will be useful to Forest in the market – but it also highlights the elite skillset that Anderson brings to the Tricky Trees’ midfield, and why it’ll be so tough to find his successor.
The former Newcastle man led the league among midfielders last season for almost every metric imaginable, combining elite ball progression with top tier defensive work that demonstrated his value both in and out of possession.
Only Everton’s James Garner ran further than him of any player in the division, while Anderson won possession back 306 times – 94 more than the next man on the list – and made the fourth-most passes in the league.
Roma’s Kone has shown similarly well-rounded abilities during an eye-catching season in Serie A.
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Like Anderson, the 25-year-old has demonstrated his ability to play through pressure, whether finding the difficult pass or dribbling through the lines.
The Frenchman was in the top 5% of all Serie A midfielders for most ball recoveries, successful dribbles and progressive passes last season – and with Roma said to be operating within tight financial restrictions, he could be available for a cut-price fee.
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