Thomas Tuchel reveals why Elliot Anderson transfer battle can help England star at World Cup

Elliot Anderson looks destined to make a blockbuster transfer for a nine-figure sum this summer and is also poised to play a starring role at the World Cup for England

Elliot Anderson is the “full package” after becoming England’s most sought-after midfielder.

That is the view of England boss Thomas Tuchel who gave the Nottingham Forest midfielder a ringing endorsement. And Tuchel believes being a wanted-man can take him to another level and boost his confidence to really feel like a record-breaking star.

Anderson is locked in a transfer tug-of-war after Manchester City tabled a £100m-plus bid for the England star but Nottingham Forest want a Premier League record fee for a midfielder in excess of £110m.

Manchester United have also been in the running and Anderson could easily have been distracted by all the transfer talk ahead of the World Cup.

But Tuchel insists that nothing could be further from the truth and that Anderson’s impressive display in England’s final friendly with Costa Rica was proof that he is worth his weight in gold.

Tuchel has already made it clear that he will not stop his players from discussing transfers while in camp – though they must avoid doing it ahead of match days in the tournament.

But Tuchel says he has no worries about Anderson and whether a big move will affect him, even if he left any conversations to his coach Anthony Barry. Tuchel said: “He’s a top player. There’s nothing more to say, he’s the full package. I’m happy that he’s with us on that kind of level and he’s a key player for us.

“The bid? No comment! He seems not affected. It was an amazing performance against Costa Rica, he’s fine.

“I won’t speak to him about it. My assistant coach spoke with him about it but I won’t. It should push him because it’s proof of what he’s capable to do and what level he can perform. At the moment it seems like a push for him.

“Even if a transfer is completed, hopefully he stays the same person. Nothing will change overnight with him if he wakes up, he’s not a new player.

“People will try to hang around his neck this price but in reality nothing changes. He just changes the club, that’s the rules of the game.

“Hopefully he just stays the same – a humble, determined, hungry football player. Absolutely, he is very level-headed.

“I hope it boosts his confidence (if it happens). I don’t want to go into it too much if it’s a boost or not a boost – what I see on the training pitch is no distractions, full commitment, that’s what comes from him.”

Tuchel has already seen another of his England stars move in a big money move to a glamorous club. Anthony Gordon’s £70m switch from Newcastle to Barcelona came just before the tournament, but the worry was the winger barely played in the closing weeks of the season. Newcastle were clearly holding out for the transfer.

However, Gordon was outstanding against Costa Rica and his extra ability when it comes to pressing, work rate and he provided a goal and an assist might have put him ahead of Marcus Rashford for the starting place on the left wing against Croatia.

Tuchel says joining Barcelona has boosted his confidence and stressed his qualities which he brings with every performance.

Tuchel added: “He’s strongest if he plays humble and like a physical winger. That’s, for me, his key strengths – acceleration, deceleration and another intense run, another intense run, helping the counter press, working defence. He is painful to defend against, especially in the heat here.

“I think he has a confidence boost because of the step to Barcelona but I hope it doesn’t change his style of play because I’m very sure that’s what Barcelona expect from him.”