Manchester United have been linked with a January move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
Anderson, 22, joined the City Ground club in 2024 and has progressed so well that he was included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the games against Andorra and Serbia in September, making his debut in the former.
The 5’10 midfielder broke through at Newcastle United before making his move last year; with many clubs seeking to take advantage of PSR regulations by selling on their academy products, it meant Anderson was useful collateral, although the fee he moved to Forest has been disputed, from anywhere from £15m to £35m.
If United were to test the waters for Anderson in January, it is likely that the fee would be considerably higher. Talking Devils understands Anderson is highly thought of in United’s scouting suggestions to Ruben Amorim, though it is still widely accepted that Carlos Baleba remains the primary target for that area. The Independent reported in August that Amorim’s long-term plan is to pair Baleba with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
But with Brighton wanting a fee north of £100m for Baleba, it is unlikely Palace would settle for a much lower fee, therefore it is safe to deduce that Anderson is considered an alternative to the afore-mentioned pair rather than an additional supplement. However, it is also likely that United are happy to use the speculation to make Brighton consider their position more reasonably, just as they did with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez when Royal Antwerp stuck on their negotiations for Senne Lammens recently.
Baleba has not started the season well, and a poor season is likely to impact the premium the South Coast-club could place on his head. Understanding that United have alternative targets may make them more amenable to negotiation.
United will be in the market for midfield reinforcements in the following year. Bruno Fernandes turned 31 this month and turned down a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer, though a Saudi Pro League club is expected to return in 2026 with a new offer. Regardless, Fernandes is playing out of position in a midfield two – and Kobbie Mainoo is, according to Ruben Amorim, competing with him for a place, a statement which could see the England international push for a loan move or even a permanent move in January if his playing time does not increase. Manuel Ugarte continues to
