Manchester United will be looking to make at least one midfielder signing in the summer transfer window, with the club targeting two signings in the middle of the park if they have the perfect summer.
Casemiro will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season and Manuel Ugarte could also depart, with United open to offers for the Uruguayan midfielder.
Much will depend on who the new manager will be come the summer, with current interim boss Michael Carrick the favourite to take the job permanently, although the likes of Oliver Glasner and Julian Nagelsmann remain in the frame.
Manchester United Want Elliot Anderson Above All Others
Elliot Anderson
A number of midfielders have long been on United's shortlist for a summer move, with Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes all potential candidates.
But that list appears to have got smaller in the last few days, with two names seemingly dropping out of United's thought process.
Anderson remains the top target, although United will go head-to-head with Manchester City for the signing of the highly-rated Nottingham Forest man, with both city sides set for a summer wrangle over a £100million-plus deal.
But if they cannot get their hands on Anderson, only two of the other long-term targets remain on their list, after deciding against signing Wharton or Tonali this summer.
GIVEMESPORT's senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs told the United Stand: "It's not that Tonali is unlikely, it's that he's unlikely if Manchester United can get Elliot Anderson and what makes it harder for Tonali is he's a little bit older than Elliot Anderson and is viewed as less value for money.
"The valuation of Tonali is £100milion or more and when you add agent fees and wages which are both expected to be higher than Elliot Anderson, the overall cost is more expensive.
“With Adam Wharton the club view him as too similar in profile to Kobbie Mainoo.”
What United Must Ensure To Complete Anderson Deal
elliot anderson
If United are not able to get a deal for Anderson over the line, that would seemingly leave Baleba and Guimaraes as the potential candidates for a move to replace Casemiro in the middle of the park.
Speaking on Anderson, Jacobs said: "It's very likely he moves to the blue or red half of Manchester. Elliot Anderson is Manchester United's top target. City want to add somebody, so do Man United, that they feel can push them forwards."
United are on course to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, sitting third in the Premier League table, seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea. And offering Champions League football, like City can do, will only help the Red Devils when it comes to the negotiating table.
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