The situation at Manchester United is clearly not under control as they began their New Year with the sacking of manager Ruben Amorin, presumably after a deterioration in his relationship with the club management.  

Manager Darren Fletcher is yet to win a game. The Reds drew 2-2 with Burnley, slipping to seventh in the Premier League before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton last Sunday.  

Despite the winter transfer window being wide open, United are forced to focus on their quest to find a permanent replacement for Amorin, as player transfers have been moved down the priority list as of now.

Although the club has been linked with quite a few players prior to the opening of the transfer window, it has significantly failed to turn them into reality. Antoine Semenyo is one of the recent examples, as he ultimately chose United's rivals, Manchester City, as his destination during this transfer period.

As it seems, the Reds could face another setback by their city rivals, as Premier League starlet Elliot Anderson could choose Man City if he decides to leave Nottingham Forest at the end of the season.

According to TEAMTALK, Manchester City will make a strong effort to sign Anderson during the summer transfer window, as Pep Guardiola is considered an admirer of the 23-year-old and is already sketching his plans for next season, with the young midfielder being a prominent part.

The youngster is currently under contract with Forest until 2029, meaning Forest will have significant leverage during any potential transfer next summer. They reportedly value Anderson from £80 million to over £100 million, so if a bidding war develops in the summer transfer window, it would be tough for United to challenge their rivals.  

Anderson provided two assists and scored once during his 21 appearances in the league this season and has been influential in Forest's quest to stay out of the relegation zone this season as they sit 17th, seven points clear of 18th-placed West Ham.

United has been a major candidate to sign Anderson up until now. The inclusion of City in the mix makes it even more difficult for the Reds, as the player is also reportedly attracted to the prospect of playing at the highest level next season. If Manchester United finish in the top four at the end of the season, they might just be able to compete for the signing, which currently seems a distant dream for the United faithful.

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