Manchester United’s midfield rebuild is already facing a major complication before the summer transfer window fully begins.
The club desperately want reinforcements in central areas after Casemiro officially ended his Old Trafford spell.
Michael Carrick views midfield as one of the biggest priorities ahead of his first full season as permanent Manchester United manager. Several names remain under consideration inside the club.
However, one Premier League star quickly emerged as a dream target following a breakthrough campaign this season. Now, though, Manchester United risk missing out completely.
According to The BBC, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson currently leans towards joining Manchester City instead of moving to Old Trafford.
This could be a huge blow for United after months of admiration behind the scenes. Carrick reportedly views Anderson as the ideal long-term midfield addition following Casemiro’s departure.
Still, Manchester United chiefs remain unwilling to enter an inflated bidding war for the 23-year-old. Forest are expected to demand a massive fee for one of their most valuable players.
Some reports even suggest the asking price could rise beyond the £105 million Arsenal paid West Ham for Declan Rice in 2023.
Forest reportedly hope a strong World Cup campaign with England could increase Anderson’s market value even further.
Despite Manchester City currently leading the race, the deal still remains far from complete because of the huge valuation gap between the two clubs.
Forest manager Vitor Pereira also recently admitted the club desperately want to keep their best players this summer.
Anderson did play a massive role during Forest’s season. He made 50 appearances across all competitions while contributing four goals and five assists.
Meanwhile, Manchester United continue progressing in talks to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson as an alternative midfield option.
Still, inside Old Trafford, Elliot Anderson reportedly remains one of the club’s biggest midfield dreams despite Manchester City now appearing firmly ahead in the race.
Want to get the latest transfer news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
