Manchester United
Nottingham Forest have turned into a real talent factory lately, which always seems to draw interest from the Big Six whenever the transfer window opens. The club are currently walking a tightrope between top-half ambition and the reality of FFP rules, which often means they have to sell a big-name player to keep the books balanced.
After successfully bringing young prospects into the first team, there’s a real sense of pride and a clear tactical identity back at the club. Fans at the City Ground are obviously worried about losing their best players, but they also know that a massive transfer fee is often what’s needed to build out the rest of the squad.
Elliot Anderson News
Journalist Ekrem Konur reports that Manchester City and Manchester United are both preparing huge bids for Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. The rumoured deal is worth a staggering £100 million, a price tag that shows us how far he’s come since leaving Newcastle. Right now, City seem to be leading the race, with Pep Guardiola seeing the player as a crucial addition to an ageing midfield.
Both Manchester clubs are reportedly worried that a standout World Cup performance this summer in North America will only drive his price higher. The 23-year-old is a regular for England, and his stats back up the hype. According to Footystats for the 2025/26 season, Anderson has completed over 2,000 passes with an 86% accuracy rate and won 254 duels, proving he has the defensive grit to match his creativity.
Do Manchester City and Manchester United actually need Anderson for the 2026/27 season?
Realistically, I think City will win this race because their recruitment is just much sharper than the ongoing rebuild at Old Trafford. City need a long-term successor for the likes of Rodri or De Bruyne, and Anderson’s ability to play as a deep playmaker or a box-to-box engine will cater to their style perfectly. He has that rare knack for carrying the ball through pressure, even if he still needs to work on that final ball in the attacking third.
Liverpool target this €70 million player as Salah’s replacement
Manchester United definitely need his energy to replace Casemiro, but they might have a hard time convincing a player of his quality to join a project that still feels a bit shaky compared to the Etihad. I expect Anderson will head to City for something like £115 million after the World Cup, as Forest will hold out for every penny once he’s in the global spotlight. While United should be in for him, City are the side that actually needs his specific profile to stay on top next year.