Manchester United have named two other Premier League midfielders as their backup options for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
With Casemiro set to leave Manchester United this summer, despite a clause in his contract that could have kept him at the club for one more year had he played every game until the end of the season, the priority for the transfer window must be new defensive midfielders.
Manuel Ugarte is the understudy to Casemiro at the moment, but it seems the former Sporting CP midfielder could also leave at the end of the campaign after two underwhelming years at Old Trafford. This could leave United without any defensive midfielders heading into the 2026/27 season when they look set to return to the Champions League.
Elliot Anderson appears to be the favourite option within Manchester United, but that doesn't necessarily mean he will join the club, as Manchester City have also been linked with the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
Anderson would likely be coming in as Rodri's replacement, with the Spaniard linked with a move back to La Liga, but at Old Trafford, the former Newcastle United star has been branded as the "ideal" candidate to replace Casemiro.
Previously, United had been rumoured to have a five-man Premier League shortlist including Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Amadou Onana, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton. Since then, though, United have also been linked with Bruno Guimarães, and a new backup plan has been named.
United's Anderson backup plan
Director of Football Jason Wilcox will be focused on recruiting Anderson, aiming not to be beaten to another signing by his former employees, Manchester City, who won the race for Antoine Semenyo in the summer transfer window.
Sky Sports have reported that, as well as "ideal" Anderson, United have also internally considered Wolverhampton Wanderers' Joao Gomes, who could be available for a cheaper fee, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.
Also, Ben Jacobs has said that while City are pushing to sign Anderson, United have already done the legwork to get a deal over the line before their rivals.
Sky Sports continues to say that United will "prioritise" adding to their engine room players, but will also look at adding a left-back and left-winger to the squad.
United have recently been linked with Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde as options for the left side of defence, while it seems Patrick Dorgu will be pushed further forward as an attacking option to compete with Matheus Cunha.
United must ensure that they focus on midfield additions first. They have to be careful that they don't spend funds on other areas of the squad and leave the midfield for the end and risk missing out on their targets, as they have done in many other windows since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.
United must replace Casemiro with more than Anderson
If United do manage to beat Manchester City to Anderson's signature, they must ensure that they sign more than just the Forest midfielder, as Casemiro brings more to the side than just his defensive midfield qualities.
The Brazilian has been crucial for United from set-pieces, both offensively and defensively, and Anderson will not have the same impact in either box.
Therefore, United have to ensure that they also sign another player, perhaps a left-back or left-winger, who will be able to compensate for the aerial presence United will lose when Casemiro leaves.
Amadou Onana, another midfield target, would make up for the height of Casemiro, but it seems he isn't an option for United anymore.