Manchester United want to sign Elliot Anderson in the summer, but interest from elsewhere means Ineos may have to settle for Nottingham Forest teammate Ibrahim Sangare.
Ideally, Manchester United will kickstart their summer midfield overhaul by signing top target Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Anderson is valued over £75m by Forest following his incredible season, but United are not the only team showing interest. Manchester City want Anderson, and if they win the race for his signature, it would dent Ineos’ transfer plans.
Recent reports suggest United are scouting Ibrahim Sangare, who is available for £43 million in the summer. There are three reasons why the 28-year-old may even be a better signing for the Red Devils than his midfield partner Elliot Anderson.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal - Premier League
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IF Elliot Anderson signs for Man City, who would be your TOP PRIORITY midfield alternative?
Elliot Anderson knee slide for Nottingham Forest.
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Why Man United must consider Ibrahim Sangare if Elliot Anderson falls through
Earlier this season, Jamie Carragher said Forest’s midfield three are one of the best in the Premier League despite the club battling relegation.
Anderson is the flagship of Forest’s midfield, but Sangare does a lot of the underappreciated work that only stats reflect.
According to FBref, Forest have a higher points per match with Sangare (1.19) compared to Anderson (0.97). Additionally, Forest score more goals and concede less on average when Sangare is playing compared to Anderson.
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Additionally, Sangare has actually been more of a goal threat than Anderson this season. Despite taking half as many shots (16 vs 35), Sangare averages more goals per 90 minutes than Anderson this season.
Finally, one of the biggest advantages Sangare has over Anderson is his physicality and height. Sangare stands at 6ft 3in, which makes him a perfect replacement for the aerially dominant Casemiro.
Is Elliot Anderson the standout midfield option for Manchester United?
How much would you want United to spend on him this summer…
Elliot Anderson duels
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Ibrahim Sangare is the perfect Casemiro replacement
In United’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, Casemiro scored his sixth goal of the season by heading in Bruno Fernandes’ cross.
During his time at United, Casemiro has been a major aerial threat from set pieces and Ineos need to factor that in when finding his replacement.
READ MORE: Noussair Mazraoui outlines what Man Utd will lose when Casemiro leaves
Sangare has the physical attributes to replace Casemiro’s defensive work in midfield while also being an aerial presence in both boxes.
Anderson’s duel-winning prowess makes him a strong candidate for United, but Sangare is also more than capable of stepping in to fill Casemiro’s void next season.
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