Manchester United could be in for a busy summer and reports suggest they've set their sights on raiding relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson (right) and Morgan Gibbs-White appear dejected after Leicester City score their second goal during the Premier League match at the City Ground, Nottingham
Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White are reportedly on Manchester United's radar(Image: PA)
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Manchester United are reportedly interested in Nottingham Forest duo Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson. And some sales might have to be sanctioned to afford this blockbuster double deal.
With Michael Carrick at the helm, United have made significant improvements over the last month. Having supplanted Ruben Amorim, the English manager is yet to lose any of his first six matches in charge during this spell.
Yet, bolstering the squad when the summer window opens must still be on the club's agenda and they have reportedly singled out both Gibbs-White and Anderson. The former was the subject of a £60million bid from Tottenham over the summer, though this was rebuffed and he shortly thereafter signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground.
Anderson is one of the Premier League's hottest properties and whispers of a £100m price tag continue to swirl. Irrespective of whether Forest survive the drop, it appears United may launch an assault on this pair and the Manchester Evening News looks at sales the club could sanction to fund it.
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There are two obvious moves that United are expected to make come the summer: offloading both Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, who are currently away on loan.
Manchester United's English striker #10 Marcus Rashford (L) comes on to replace Manchester United's Danish striker #11 Rasmus Hojlund (R) during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Manchester United
Rashford and Hojlund could make their loan moves permanent(Image: Getty)
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Rashford joined Barcelona last year and despite the potential roadblock of a renegotiation, he has a £26m purchase option that the Catalan club are expected to exercise.
Hojlund is thriving at Napoli and he too has a buy-out obligation. This £38m clause is activated if Napoli qualify for next season's Champions League and even if they don't, it is still expected they'd attempt to purchase him.
If both of these exits go smoothly then they may generate £64m, with Rashford's sale acting as pure profit. Next, should the dynamic Gibbs-White arrive, he would surely take the place of Bruno Fernandes in the first team.
The club captain has been a loyal servant to United, but at 31, he is only going to regress. Speculation has already begun over a potential summer departure after a Saudi Pro League saga last year.
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Fernandes was linked with a move to the Middle East last summer(Image: Getty)
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He is only under contract until 2027 and would likely demand astronomical wages to renew. The Daily Mail reports that he has a £56.6m release clause in his contract for clubs outside of England.
Two other squad players could join Fernandes out the exit door, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch forward was linked with a move away in January and appears out of the first-team picture.
Mason Mount of Manchester United reacts with Joshua Zirkzee at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Manchester City
Mount and Zirkzee could be sold to fund incomings(Image: Getty)
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Mount has struggled with injuries since his £60m move from Chelsea in 2023 and he would free up space if Anderson is to sign. January rumours placed Zirkzee's price at around the £20m mark, with Mount valued at £28m as per Transfermarkt.
Altogether, selling these five players could raise roughly £170m. Forest may demand near £100m for Anderson and there is a release clause in the new deal Gibbs-White penned last summer which prevents a bidding war.
Nevertheless, a combined £170m, not to mention the wages that United may have been able to get off their books with these sales, would surely be enough to secure this potentially game-changing double transfer if personal terms can be agreed.