Man Utd are out of the running to sign Elliot Anderson, who will command a record-breaking fee for an English player.
Elliot Anderson is playing at the World Cup.(Image: 2026 FIFA)
View 2 Images
In the Nottingham Forest media room at the City Ground, there are photos of Evangelos Marinakis on almost every wall.
From players thanking him directly after signing new contracts, collaring Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch, to chasing officials out of the City Ground, Forest chairman Marinakis comes across as a tad egotistical.
Marinakis does not look like someone who is straightforward to deal with, which Manchester City are finding out after their offer of a £120million package to sign Elliot Anderson was turned down.
Manchester United believe Forest's valuation is too high, so they have effectively walked away from the deal, and they would only revisit the situation if City's talks collapsed and a lower fee could be agreed.
Forest have rejected City's offer of £106m plus add-ons for Anderson because Marinakis is holding out for a higher up-front fee, but the latest noise from the Etihad suggests City are also prepared to walk away.
Marinakis is walking a fine line in negotiations. Anderson's high valuation means United will miss out this summer, and there will be disappointment at Old Trafford over the club's failure to secure their priority target.
However, knowing when to walk away from a transfer is a skill. Anderson is a brilliant player, and could be at the heart of United's midfield for the next 10 years, but a deal in excess of £120m would be excessive, so it was the right decision to back off.
Any frustrated fans who think it's worth getting Anderson at all costs must consider the consequences of doing so. Firstly, paying more than £120m would impact funds for strengthening the rest of the squad.
Secondly, it would set a precedent for other clubs to negotiate with United in the future. They would know that United invested heavily to sign Anderson, and would feel they could drive up the price of their player.
Elliot Anderson during a training session
Forest have rejected two City bids for Anderson. (Image: JC Ruiz/PA Wire)
View 2 Images
United would feel the consequences of signing Anderson for that sort of fee for years to come. It would send a message to selling clubs that United can be held to ransom, and they will eventually cough up.
The Reds were seen as soft touches in the transfer market for far too long, limping from one bad decision to another each summer in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. United obviously made a few good signings in that period, but the Ineos regime knew the club's strategy needed to change.
A big part of that has been improving United's reputation in the transfer market. Ineos chiefs wanted United to act like a sensible club in the market, which, over time, would erode the club's soft-touch reputation.
The advantage of walking away from the Anderson deal is that United's good work of the last 18 months - not overpaying for players and lowering the wage bill - is not undermined. It also hardens the growing perception of United by selling clubs, who have seen that they are no longer making daft decisions by paying whatever it takes to get a deal done.
Omar Berrada touched on United's strategy in his recent interview with club media. "We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple. We have a plan, we know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that," he said.
"In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing it’s the right thing for not just the next two or three years, but the next 10 years.
"But clearly, we need to stay very focused on what we’re trying to achieve. It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing."
United's data department has crunched the numbers on West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, and he is seen as a suitable alternative to Anderson. West Ham value Fernandes at £85m, and they are a mess internally, but they will be easier to negotiate with than Marinakis.