Manchester United have been urged to secure the signing of Elliot Anderson in January before other clubs enter the race for the Nottingham Forest star.
Manchester United have been in talks surrounding the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson. The 23-year-old is looking to be a perfect fit for Ruben Amorim’s side, with the likelihood of Anderson joining the Reds in January looking more likely.
United have been told that Anderson would be a “special” signing for the club, whilst also helping to fill a gap in the squad after reports shared that current United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Amorim have fallen out with one another, and Casemiro is in the final year of his contract for the Reds.
Following Anderson’s impressive start to the season, United have not been the only club with links to the English player, with Premier League rivals Manchester City also showing an interest in the player.
Despite interest from big-name teams, Forrest seems unwilling to sell the midfielder in January, even after being met with rumoured bids of £100 million floating around the transfer circuit.
United urged to sign Anderson in January
Former Premier League striker Dean Saunders has encouraged United to take the plunge and push to sign Anderson before other clubs seal the deal.
Saunders shared his belief that Anderson would be the missing piece in the puzzle to elevate the Portuguese head coach’s matchday squad and eventually take United back to their winning ways.
When speaking to BoyleSports earlier this week, ahead of the draw against West Ham, Saunders spoke highly of Anderson.
“Elliot Anderson understands the position,” he stated. He understands when he should go forward and who he’s playing with. He doesn’t give the ball away, which is a common trait among the best players I ever played with.
“They’ve all got one thing in common – they don’t give the ball away and he’s one of them. He’s getting better. Forest just needs to get a few more wins and get him up the league so he can play without the pressure being on him.
“Manchester United picked up another win at the weekend, which is keeping the wolves from the door. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško, I think they’re better than what they had. They’ve signed three good players there, and adding Anderson to it would be special.
“Ruben Amorim has just got to keep surviving. He’s just got to keep getting three points when he needs it and giving himself time to work this jigsaw puzzle out.”
United likely to wait until the summer for Anderson
For many, the young player seems just the right person for United to add to their rotation, arguably being one of the most impressive young midfielders right now in English football. Not only is he soaring at club level, but he has also started to make an impact on the international stage, earning himself his first six caps for Thomas Tuchel’s England side this year.
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Alongside this, Anderson’s style of play almost perfectly mirrors how Amorim sets up his midfield. Anderson is described as a box-to-box player, whilst also capable of taking the number six role, often dictating the game’s tempo.
This would fit Amorim’s midfield structure, often pairing a more defensive player with the other midfielder taking a bolder stance and advancing. However, reports suggest the club will wait until the summer before making a move that could cost as much as £100 million.
With United’s midfield often criticised for being far too passive, implementing Anderson into the squad, utilising his stamina and physicality, will hopefully make a difference to the midfield and get United back to the once-feared side.
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