Manchester giants clash over Nottingham Forest's midfield maestro. Two Premier League titans battle for a rising star's signature, with City holding an early advantage.
Manchester United and Manchester City have shown interest in signing midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is shining with Nottingham Forest and the England national team. The British player could change clubs at the end of the season.
An absolutely fundamental piece in Nottingham Forest's setup, midfielder Elliot Anderson (25 years old) has become the protagonist of a close duel between two great Premier League clubs. According to TEAMtalk, both Manchester City and Manchester United have begun to take decisive steps to secure his services.
On the face of it, the Sky Blues are the ones with a better chance of recruiting him. For two reasons: the presence of the highly regarded Pep Guardiola on the Etihad Stadium bench and the feeling that, from a sporting perspective, they are several points ahead of their neighbor.
That said, extracting the central midfielder from the City Ground will not be an easy task. The Tricky Trees are not willing to facilitate his departure and will likely demand large sums for a player whose contract runs until the still distant June 2029. Furthermore, they have made it clear they will not consider any offer until the current season ends.
Gifted with notable technique, Anderson has stood out lately for his tactical intelligence, his vision of the game, and his defensive commitment, qualities he has showcased in the 64 official matches (three goals and seven assists) he has played for Forest. He has also already earned six caps with the senior England national team.
What Is the Plan for Manchester United’s January Transfer Window?
Manager Ruben Amorim has emphasized that Manchester United will not make new signings in January unless there is "common ground" between him and football director Jason Wilcox on which players will improve the team. The Red Devils continue to be linked with some names, including several midfielders, ahead of the winter transfer market opening on New Year's Day.
United is believed to be interested in signing a new No. 6 in January.
According to The Guardian, United is thought to have prioritized signing a new central midfielder in January, with Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves, Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher, and Bournemouth's Tyler Adams added to its list of potential signings.
The 20-time champions were interested in bringing in a new No. 6 in the summer transfer window, but withdrew from negotiations to secure Brighton and Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba after being put off by his reported valuation of 100 million pounds ($114 million/$133 million).
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