Man United going ‘all out’ to sign ‘perfect’ Nottingham Forest player
Man United will go “all out” in their attempts to sign Elliot Anderson in 2026 as he has been named as their top midfield target.
That is according to former Man United chief scout Mick Brown, who worked at Old Trafford for over a decade and remains very well-connected there, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 23-year-old is seen as the perfect option for Ruben Amorim.
His performances both for Nottingham Forest and England have caught the eye of United’s recruitment staff as they desperately seek to bolster Amorim’s midfield.
However, the deal may be difficult to do in the upcoming transfer window after Football Insider revealed that Sean Dyche will not sell Anderson in January.
As a result, Man United could be forced to wait until the end of the season to land their man, but are determined to beat a growing list of rival suitors to his signature.
Man United plan to accelerate Elliot Anderson bid
Brown told Football Insider on 14 October that Anderson is Man United’s top target to strengthen in midfield as they continue to keep tabs on his progress.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that they are now prepared to step up their interest in the England international.
“Elliot Anderson is the top target for Man United,” he told Football Insider.
“They should be bending over backwards to bring him in, and from what I hear, they are prepared to go all out because they don’t want to miss out on him.
“Whether it happens in January, I think that’s unlikely because Forest won’t want to lose him.
“It might be something they have to be patient for, but they should be prepared to do whatever it takes.
“But he’s seen as the perfect option for Amorim, because he’s showing for Forest and for England that he can dominate games on his own ability, not just if his team is doing well.
“He has a lot of energy, gets about the park, isn’t afraid to put his foot in, but then when he wins the ball he can get his head up and find a teammate.
“It’s exactly what United have been looking for and they know it, so they want to make sure they’re the ones to bring him in, nobody else.”
How much do Nottingham Forest want for Anderson?
While United remain determined to get a deal for Anderson over the line, there are concerns about what it might cost to get him out of the City Ground.
Football Insider exclusively revealed earlier this month that Nottingham Forest have increased Anderson’s asking price to over £100million amid growing interest.
This comes after both Liverpool and Man City joined Man United in the race for his signature, allowing Forest to bump up his price and hope for a bidding war.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider that Manchester City are stepping up their pursuit of Anderson to beat United to a deal in the near future.
However, a January departure from Forest is considered highly unlikely as things stand, and any movement will likely take place after the World Cup instead.
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