Gareth Barry believes Manchester United should sign a fellow Premier League star as the ideal replacement for Casemiro
Elliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson is on Man United's radar ahead of the summer(Image: James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)
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Former Premier League midfielder Gareth Barry has called on Manchester United to pursue Elliot Anderson as a replacement for Casemiro. The 34-year-old has already confirmed he will end his Old Trafford stint when his contract runs out this summer.
United's choice not to hand the experienced midfielder fresh terms is part of their broader squad restructuring. Casemiro arrived from Real Madrid for an initial £60million in 2022, with add-ons pushing the overall fee to £70million.
He pockets around £300,000 per week, climbing closer to £350,000 if United are competing in the Champions League. Manuel Ugarte's future at M16 is also in doubt; several names have been touted as potential replacements for the duo.
Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton have also been mentioned, but Barry reckons Anderson would be the ideal fit for the position.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, the former Aston Villa man said: "Man United are certainly going to be looking for a Casemiro replacement. Elliot Anderson is probably a slightly different player and a very different age, his skillset is a lot different.
"I like Elliot Anderson. If you're a Man Utd scout, you'll mention him. He's one of the best off-the-ball players. He presses to limit the attacking player's space. He's one of the best around, and he's capable of going the other way as well.
"That's why Thomas Tuchel's got him in his starting eleven over a lot of big-name players with England, and he's a possible starter for the World Cup team. So I'm sure he's being discussed in the Man United boardroom, as well as maybe other teams.
Elliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson in action for Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty Images)
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"I think, from that sort of experience for a player and a club, if the deal is going to happen, try to get it done as soon as possible. I think it just helps everyone. It helps both clubs and helps the player, especially going into a big tournament."
Barry added: "He doesn't want to be thinking about his club future while trying to win the World Cup for England. It's not going to help anyone. Also, the price tag could be a bit steeper if he has a good tournament.
"If something like that is going to happen and the player's got his head around the fact that it's time for a move, it's certainly better to be done before the tournament than after."
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However, Nottingham Forest are unlikely to sanction the departure of the 23 year old after he has become a crucial defensive midfielder at the City Ground since his switch from Newcastle United in 2024.
While a £100million price tag was previously mooted to tempt them into selling, Forest's fight against the drop could impact that valuation. Vitor Pereira's team are currently 16th in the standings, only three points clear of the relegation zone with seven matches left to play.
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