Manchester rivals Man Utd and Man City are interested in signing the same midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola in the Old Trafford dugout.(Image: 2026 James Gill - Danehouse)
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"Not in my lifetime," Sir Alex Ferguson famously said in 2009 when asked if Manchester City could become the top dogs in Manchester, but the pendulum permanently swung after his retirement.
City have won seven Premier League titles since Manchester United last lifted the trophy. United are the bigger club, but their rivals' success has led to more blue shirts around Deansgate.
United can still land a blow in the Manchester derby, and the victory in the FA Cup final over City in 2024 was special. That success represented the fifth trophy win since Ferguson departed, but United have been restricted to success in cup competitions.
United have won the FA Cup twice, the League Cup twice and the Europa League, but a genuine Premier League title tilt has eluded them.
That means City can offer a better chance of silverware than United during discussions with transfer targets. There has occasionally been overlap in the clubs' transfer plans, and both are interested in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer.
City will look at their business in the January transfer window, in which they signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £62.5million, and be bullish about landing Anderson ahead of United this summer.
United did not intend to make any signings in the January transfer window, but Semenyo became available and they were prepared to deviate from their plan to land the forward, given he was already on their shortlist.
City won the race for Semenyo's signature and he has contributed seven goals since joining. United will now need to look elsewhere when they attempt to sign a left winger in the summer.
Semenyo signed for City in January.(Image: SmartFrame/Manchester City FC)
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Despite missing out on Semenyo, there are a few examples of United beating City to players in the market. Cristiano Ronaldo was close to defecting to blue in 2021 when agent Jorge Mendes offered him to Pep Guardiola. City were in advanced talks to complete a sensational Ronaldo transfer when United were alerted to the situation. They could not allow the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to move to the Etihad.
The prospect of Ronaldo scoring for City against United in the Manchester derby forced Old Trafford chiefs to act. "Honestly, it was close," Ronaldo said of his proposed move to City.
Ferguson spoke to Ronaldo, who was left with an easy decision to make after the conversation. "As you know, my history in Manchester United, your heart, you're feeling the way that you did before, makes the difference," Ronaldo said.
"And of course, Sir Alex Ferguson. I spoke with him. He said to me, 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City'. And I say ok, boss."
Ronaldo scored 24 goals for United in his first season back, a campaign that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked and Ralf Rangnick hired on an interim basis. United struggled and finished sixth in the league.
It was hard to argue that Ronaldo had not been a success given his goalscoring record, but there was a feeling that Solskjaer's project had been impacted by accommodating an almost immobile striker.
Ronaldo orchestrated his second Old Trafford exit in a two-part blockbuster interview with Piers Morgan the following season after a breakdown in his relationship with Erik ten Hag. By the end, some felt United should have allowed him to join City.
Ronaldo after returning to United in 2021.
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Alexis Sanchez is another recent example of United winning the race for a player against their rivals, who backed out of talks to sign the Chilean forward from Arsenal due to the huge costs involved.
Guardiola, the club's owner, Khaldoon al Mubarak, and other senior officials were said to be in agreement on the decision to pull out of the race to sign Sanchez. United were the favourites to sign him, and a deal was completed in January 2018.
Sanchez received £400,000-per-week and managed to score five goals for United before leaving on loan in August 2019. He looked more capable on the piano in the unveiling video than he did on the pitch.
United will hope for more long-term success with Anderson than they had with Ronaldo and Sanchez if they beat City to his signature this summer.
Anderson has thrived since leaving Newcastle. He has been repurposed as a deep-lying midfielder at Nottingham Forest, and he is expected to start for England alongside Declan Rice at the World Cup this summer.
The only nagging concern with Anderson is whether he's cut out for the top level as a defensive midfielder. He has been impressive for England, but playing in that role in the Premier League for a Champions League club is a different kettle of fish to bossing the centre of the pitch against some of the sides he's come up against at international level.
When Anderson was recently asked about his future, he said he was focused on his football. He seems sure to line up in the Manchester derby next season, but for which club remains to be seen.