Manchester United remain determined to sign midfielder Elliot Anderson. Club officials are optimistic about the possibility of getting the better of Manchester City in the dispute for the 23-year-old player. Nottingham Forest value the athlete at around £100 million.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, is following the case closely. The professional also observes other options to strengthen the sector, such as Mateus Fernandes, from West Ham. The 2026 European summer transfer window gains strength with these movements in the English market.
United sees real chance against city rival
Nottingham Forest turned down Manchester City’s initial £80m offer for the midfielder. This rejection opened space for United to intensify conversations. The Old Trafford club believes it can convince Anderson to choose the project led by Michael Carrick.
Anderson has a contract with Forest until June 2029. General market expectations point to the player leaving this summer. He is expected to start for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia, scheduled for June 17.
United have already demonstrated the ability to act quickly in the market. The club reached an agreement with Atalanta for Éderson, a 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder, for around 40.5 million euros, with possible extras. The player should receive a starting salary of around £70,000 a week at Old Trafford.
- Elliot Anderson, 23, valued at £100m by Forest
- City’s £80m bid rejected
- Jason Wilcox also monitors West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes
- Agreement signed with Atalanta by Éderson for 40.5 million euros base
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe willing to meet Anderson’s salary demands
Wilcox has history with Fernandes
Jason Wilcox met Mateus Fernandes during his time at Southampton. The 21-year-old Portuguese joined West Ham in 2025, but the club’s relegation cut his salary in half. United see value in the operation given the budget constraints imposed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
West Ham is asking for around 80 million pounds for the player, a value considered high by the market. Fernandes is not part of the Portuguese squad for the World Cup. This facilitates possible negotiations at this time.
Wilcox was serving as a director at Southampton when Fernandes arrived at the club in August 2024. The subsequent move to West Ham was accompanied by Kyle Macaulay, who now works at United as head of scouting.
Casemiro’s departure opens up space in the squad
Casemiro’s likely departure to Inter Miami weakens United’s midfield options. The 34-year-old Brazilian still depends on a compensation agreement between Inter Miami and LA Galaxy. The American club does not have a designated player vacancy to meet the current salary.
This movement accelerates the need for reinforcements. United is working to balance the squad with younger and more versatile profiles. Anderson and Fernandes represent options that fit into long-term planning.
Éderson arrives to add immediate experience. The 26-year-old Brazilian played in the Europa League for Atalanta and has three caps for Brazil’s senior team. He is expected to undergo medical examinations soon and sign a contract until 2030, with the option of another year.
Ratcliffe seeks to reduce costs with balance
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, prioritizes controlling expenses. Even so, he would authorize the payment of Anderson’s salary, estimated at around £100,000 a week at Forest, with a possible 50% increase. The focus remains on the club’s financial sustainability.
United are also looking at Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. The south coast club, however, shows confidence in the 22-year-old Cameroonian midfielder remaining. The conversations continue parallel to Anderson’s main attack.
Details of the agreement by Éderson
The deal with Atalanta was agreed for an initial sum of £34m, plus £3.8m in performance bonuses. Éderson becomes the first signing of the Carrick era as permanent coach. He should join the squad in pre-season.
United monitors the market carefully. The board avoids inflating values, but demonstrates a willingness to act on multiple fronts at the same time. Midfield emerges as a clear priority for next season.
The scenario in the Premier League indicates intense movement. Large clubs seek to reposition their squads before the window closes. The outcome of negotiations for Anderson could set the tone for United’s operations this summer.
