Manchester United will have to go head-to-head with arch-rivals Manchester City if they plan on signing Elliot Anderson in the summer.
When it comes to midfield targets in the summer transfer window, Elliot Anderson is at the top of the shopping list for Manchester United.
Anderson recently dropped a masterclass against City, but frustratingly, all it did was convince Pep Guardiola’s side that they should sign the English midfielder in the summer.
Unfortunately, City are favourites to sign Anderson and United chiefs are well aware that they have a transfer battle on their hands.
Elliot Anderson celebrates in Nottingham Forest kit.
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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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Man United chiefs react to Man City interest in Elliot Anderson
Transfer expert Ben Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, gave a new update on Elliot Anderson’s future, including how United are not ruling themselves out of the race.
“I think Manchester City’s tactic has been to speak to the Elliot Anderson camp to outline the fact that they will be able to offer the highest package and wage, but then wait to speak formally to Nottingham Forest because Marinakis doesn’t really want to engage in anything yet,” Jacobs explained.
“The difference in price potentially between Forest going down or staying up will make it worth waiting for, as far as the suitors are concerned, and seeing whether they can get a better deal if Nottingham Forest end up dropping into the Championship next season.
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“So Manchester City and Manchester United are both expected to go big on Elliot Anderson. We’re not at an advanced point of club negotiations or even Elliot Anderson saying he only wants one club. So at this stage, we can’t really say whether the blue or the red half of Manchester are winning, but as with Antoine Semenyo, Manchester United tend to try and get the player buy-in first. If they can’t, they back out.
“My intel from within the club at the moment is not that Manchester United definitively think they’re going to lose the race for Elliot Anderson or that he’s going to go to Manchester City or that the player is only going to make a decision based on finances.
“There is an appreciation that Man City will be able to offer more money, but Manchester United are certainly going to be able to improve upon his current Nottingham Forest package as well. So this is what I think that’s going to run into the late April, early May period.”
You have £100m to spend on a midfielder – who are YOU buying, Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton?
Or is there another realistic player you would sign instead? Let us know who!
Anderson or Wharton graphic
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Man United must wait for Elliot Anderson decision
Last summer will be remembered as one of the best summer transfer windows in many years for United, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens all impressing on their debut season.
One of the key factors in all of those deals was that Ineos made sure the players were desperate to move to Old Trafford.
READ MORE: Elliot Anderson just sent Man Utd clear reminder of why he must be number one signing in 21-duel performance
Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko turned down clubs in the Champions League in order to join United, and that is the kind of desire that Ineos should want in all signings.
Anderson is United’s top target, but if he signals at all that he wants to join City, Ineos should walk away from the deal. Plenty of United’s signings have backfired when players are lured by money rather than desire.
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