A lot is being made about the future of Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, and that doesn’t really come as a surprise.
After signing from Newcastle for £35 million, he quickly became a mainstay in the Forest team and helped the club secure a seventh-placed finish in 2024/25.
Anderson has continued his fine form this season, and he’s now considered a dead certainty to go to the World Cup as part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.
Troy Deeney raved about Anderson at the weekend, and now he has a number of top clubs monitoring his services ahead of the January transfer window – not least Manchester United.
Elliot Anderson plays for Nottingham Forest at Anfield
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Elliot Anderson claim made by a reputable Manchester United podcaster
It would appear as though some United fans are getting quite confident about Anderson potentially moving to Old Trafford during the January transfer window.
With the midfielder on a long-term contract at the City Ground, it will take an astronomical offer to prise him from Forest, but Andy Mitten, the editor of the United We Stand fanzine, believes he should be keen to move to United.
He told the Talk of the Devils podcast: “I mentioned Elliot Anderson a few weeks ago. Absolutely, Manchester United would love to sign him.
“It is obvious, and he’s absolutely the player Manchester United want.”
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“I’m not saying they’re signing him. I’ve said they want him, but there are so many moving parts here. He is contracted with another football club.
“All I’m saying is if word gets to him, if you’ve got a chance of joining Manchester United, then you take it because it’s not going to be there forever. Sometimes transfers time out. I mean, some of them timed out in the summer.
“If you’re listening to this, Elliot Anderson, look at what fellow Geordie, Bryan Robson, did in 1981. You can join one of the biggest football clubs in the world and could be part of their recovery. This train will only pass through once, son. Get on the train, you can play for middling clubs, or you can join Manchester United.”
Will Elliot Anderson sign for Manchester United in January
Nottingham Forest unlikely to offload Anderson in January
With Forest still competing in Europe and also fighting to pull clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League, it’s hard to fathom Anderson leaving in January.
A sound second half of the year and a brilliant World Cup with England should allow Forest to demand £100 million at the very least for his services during the summer transfer window.
Anderson is the one mainstay in the Forest midfield at the moment and his performances are catching the eye of all of the top European clubs.
Andy Mitten thinks Elliot Anderson wants Manchester United move
With that in mind, it might be best for now if United stay in their line and prepare to line up other targets.
A shocking Premier League campaign last time out ensured that the Red Devils aren’t in Europe this season, and the rebuild continues for United.
As Mitten points out, there will be a United recovery of sorts, but whether or not that’s going to be enough to entice Anderson, with Liverpool, Newcastle and Real Madrid loosely linked, remains to be seen.
The January transfer window will almost certainly see Anderson the subject of bids, but given the nature of buying and selling at the time of the year, a departure feels unlikely.