Manchester United want to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Manchester City are claimed to be leading the race.
Elliot Anderson is the standout option for Manchester United in the transfer market, with midfield the clear priority option the club need to strengthen. Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube update in late February insisted that United would ‘love’ to sign the midfielder.
A new report from Teamtalk claims that City are in pole position to sign Anderson in a £90 million deal. United missing out is not certain, but the club have to prepare for the possibility.
Anderson to City would pose three separate issues for Manchester United.
Elliot Anderson playing against Liverpool
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Problem 1: City will become even stronger
Elliot Anderson to Manchester City would be bad news for Manchester United in a sporting sense. It will make their midfield even stronger, for years to come with Anderson only 23.
It heightens the stakes for United to respond and sign a top midfielder of our own so we can compete with an Anderson and Rodri duo next season.
United missed out on Antoine Semenyo to City in January too, and it is not a good look to lose out on two top players to the blue half, even if it just comes down to salary offers.
IF Elliot Anderson signs for Man City, who would be your TOP PRIORITY midfield alternative?
Elliot Anderson knee slide for Nottingham Forest.
Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images
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Problem 2: United will be ‘on the rebound’
Elliot Anderson is such a standout option that there will be no pretending that he was not on United’s list. Ineos will need to act decisively.
One of the problems is that clubs will know United are desperate to (a) replace Casemiro and (b) find an alternative to Anderson.
United will be ‘on the rebound’ and are likely to face scenarios where selling clubs hike up price tags to try and take advantage of United’s need. And this could lead to lengthy sagas, or missing out on a player altogether.
Problem 3: There is not a clear alternative
The most worrying problem is that there is not a clear number one alternative to Elliot Anderson, although there are a few names in the mix.
Adam Wharton is talented but may not be a good fit with Kobbie Mainoo. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have both been touted, however, Newcastle are unlikely to want to sell to Manchester United.
Carlos Baleba will be overvalued based on his poor performances in 2024/25.
Various names will emerge between now and the summer, and United don’t necessarily need a big name. We need more than one midfielder due to playing more games next season, and the mix needs to be right.
Buying quantity and quality will be difficult, and Ineos’ recruitment team and data experts will be put to the test to find the right player. Signings from abroad will be considered, but there will need to be some Premier League know-how in the mix too.
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