Manchester United are reportedly confident they know the fee they can secure Elliot Anderson for this summer, despite a claim about his real value.
Manchester United are set to pursue at least one new midfielder in 2026, though it remains uncertain whether that arrival will come in January or in the summer.
Rúben Amorim and United’s recruitment staff viewed Carlos Baleba as their perfect midfield addition last summer, but Brighton’s demand of at least £100 million forced them to step away. United had already agreed personal terms with Baleba, who was very enthusiastic about the move.
The club have also shown strong interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, while Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton has been consistently mentioned as a potential target.
Baleba is still considered a leading candidate for the summer, and Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is now being linked more frequently as a possible January signing.
United confident of Anderson transfer
Anderson’s rise at Nottingham Forest has been nothing short of fantastic, with his quality displays earning him a call-up for England and a place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI.
It’s not just United who are interested in him. However, a report from CaughtOffside claims the club are confident they can strike a relative bargain fee of around £60 million for the 23-year-old, despite his value possibly hitting as high as £100 million this season.
“Financially, the situation is complex,” a source reportedly told CaughtOffside. “Anderson is under contract with Forest until 2029, giving the club strong leverage. Internally, the club believes Anderson’s value could exceed £100 million if his development continues.
“Still, Manchester United are confident that £60 million would be enough to tempt Forest into negotiations.”
This comes not long after transfer journalist Ben Jacobs revealed that there are special clauses and agreements in his contract that would allow the biggest clubs in football to sign him for less than Forest’s valuation.
Anderson open to Old Trafford move
The 2025 summer transfer window saw United sign some of the best players in the Premier League – Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo – despite finishing 15th in the league last season, to the bewilderment of many.
It’s clear that, even with United’s rotten campaign last time out, the club’s draw remains immense. Further, another source reportedly told CaughtOffside that the midfielder is also drawn to the chance of playing for the club.
“Anderson is open to a move to Old Trafford,” the source reportedly added. “He’s drawn by the chance to play on the biggest stage and join one of the big six.”
With Casemiro’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, Anderson could be the perfect replacement for the veteran Brazilian, who has been an essential cog in Amorim’s system this campaign.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 14:00 pm (GMT) on the United View YouTube channel.