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Manchester United have received a bitter transfer blow in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson
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Manchester United will need to return to the drawing board in their bid to rejuvenate Ruben Amorim's ageing midfield. The Red Devils currently have 33-year-old Casemiro and 31-year-old Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park with the former's contract expiring this coming summer. While Man United failed to lure Brighton and Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba to Old Trafford, the club reportedly turned their attentions to Nottingham Forest's 'do-it-all' central midfielder Elliot Anderson.
According to transfers journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Anderson has supposedly informed his representatives of a preference to join Manchester City next summer. The 23-year-old put in a Man of the Match display at the weekend despite Forest falling to defeat against Brighton and is in line to start alongside Declan Rice for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as it stands.
Reports indicate that Man City are reluctant to spend the suggested £100 million asking price and that a move is only likely to happen following next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Anderson is contracted at the City Ground until June 2029, putting the Reds in a strong negotiating position, however, his performances and the trajectory he is on currently indicate he may soon outgrow the East Midlands side. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. In Four Four Two's opinion, Manchester City seems the most logical destination for Anderson to further his career. The Newcastle-born midfielder excels when it comes to winning the ball back high up the pitch, which would add another dimension to Man City's existing midfield and their aggressive in-possession structure. Additionally, Anderson is the type of player who can drive and burst into the box with the ball at his feet, unlike other progressive midfield players who carry the ball between both boxes but struggle to penetrate beyond an opponent's defensive line. Get premium Manchester United tickets with Seat Unique! Manchester United's hospitality offers comfortable, padded seating in the North West Quadrant. The package includes a concourse meal deal (hot food, drink, and snack) and the official matchday programme. Guests also receive a 10 per cent Megastore discount and non-matchday Museum entry, providing a great value, family-friendly match experience for home fans. Joe joined Four Four Two as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
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