Rio Ferdinand has now identified Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as his No 1 Manchester United midfield target ahead of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.
Elliot Anderson has been heavily linked with Manchester United during the 2025-26 Premier League season alongside the likes of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
The 23-year-old Nottingham Forest and England midfielder has impressed in the current campaign and is also on the radar of Premier League side Manchester City.
However, Anderson is only one potential option available for United this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Adam Wharton also emerging as alternatives.
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Elliot Anderson celebrates during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Is Elliot Anderson the standout midfield option for Manchester United?
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Elliot Anderson duels
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Rio Ferdinand compares Elliot Anderson with other Man Utd-linked midfielders, including Bruno Guimaraes
Manchester United are expected to reinforce their midfield picks in the upcoming transfer window after failing to bring a new midfielder to the club last summer.
Ruben Amorim had been keen for a new defensive midfielder amid Ineos’ 2025 summer spending spree, which saw the likes of Bryan Mbeumo being signed.
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Elliot Anderson is under contract with Nottingham Forest until 2029, but Rio Ferdinand would want him at United ahead of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba now.
“Beginning of the season everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, he seems to have gone off the boil a little bit, form-wise,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
“Elliot Anderson, he seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he’s a wonderful player.
“I think Elliot Anderson is the right type not only of player but character. I think he’d be a good addition to the squad.”
Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali have also been tipped as midfield targets for the Red Devils to pursue this summer.
“Tonali is a big talent that everyone is talking about, Guimaraes is another big talent that everyone is talking about,” Ferdinand added.
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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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What makes Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson stand out in the eyes of Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand
Outside of namechecking Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Carlos Baleba, Ferdinand feels that Anderson is “ticking” the “boxes” for the midfield profile that United want.
“But I just think the type of midfielder United need is somebody who is a bit more all-action, who can cover ground, who is dynamic, who is robust, strong, who can drive a team,” he added.
“Right now, Anderson seems to be ticking those boxes. But I think there are a few other young guns out there who I won’t mention their names yet because I don’t want anyone else to get on that scent.”
Forest are fighting Premier League relegation in the 2025-26 campaign and the club have slapped an £80m price tag on Anderson amid Man Utd’s fierce transfer interest.
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