Old Trafford’s pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s rising star faces a massive roadblock as a record-breaking £100 million price tag and fierce local competition threaten the blockbuster deal.
Many names have been linked to Manchester United's midfield search, and with the departure of Casemiro and the assumed sale of Manuel Ugarte, Michael Carrick's side needs to invest wisely in the squad's core.
Elliot Anderson has been a hot favourite around the Man United fanbase with the 23-year-old shining in a struggling Nottingham Forest side this season.
The England international could be the perfect fit in Old Trafford utilising his elite ability in transition to get the best out of his potential teammates Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, however United may face competition from rivals Manchester City who also have shown interest in the player.
Man United have shown in the previous summer that recruiting Premier League-proven profiles brings more reassured quality to the squad with the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha becoming crucial components of United's success this season.
A huge update has been revealed by transfer expert David Ornstein as speculation over the future Man United midfield grows.
Ornstein reveals Nottingham Forest's stance on Anderson
David Ornstein revealed in a video with NBC Sports that Forest remain intent that Anderson will stay.
Ornstein stated: "Nottingham Forest intend to keep hold of all of their key players this summer as things stand, we'll have to see how that develops."
Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis stands firmly in the way of United if they wish to secure pen to paper with Anderson.
The midfielder's performances have generated a huge asking price from Nottingham Forest presumably in excess of the £100 million mark, making him Man United's potential transfer record.
United may have to pivot to cheaper alternatives such as Carlos Baleba or Aurelien Tchouameni, both of which have become emerging targets in recent weeks.
How many midfielders would United need?
After having confirmed a place in next season's Champions League thanks to a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool, United's squad depth will be pushed to the limits if they wish to compete across all four competitions.
United's early exits in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season meant that United only had to balance one game per week, limiting the number of impactful injuries, particularly in the midfield, with 34-year-old Casemiro playing in 33 of United's 36 Premier League games so far.
Casemiro also offered much more than just his defensive work at the club. The Brazilian has been a key asset from set pieces and in the air, scoring eight times with his head this season.
Even if United can bring Anderson to Old Trafford, playing double the amount of games would presumably call for more frequent rotations within the squad next season.
This leaves doubts whether United would benefit more from bringing in more players for lower fees over premium stars for potentially record breaking fees.