Manchester United bullish on £100m Anderson move after sealing Ederson transfer

United's board is confident of hijacking Manchester City's pursuit of Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, despite City's lead in the race.

Manchester United’s recruitment team are quietly confident they can land a marquee £100m midfielder this summer, days after announcing the £35m capture of Brazil international Ederson from Atalanta.

The Red Devils’ primary target is Elliot Anderson, the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest playmaker who has emerged as one of the most coveted midfielders in European football. Forest paid £35m to prise Anderson from Newcastle United in 2024, and the England international has more than repaid that fee with a season that helped Forest retain Premier League status and reach the latter rounds of the Europa League.

Manchester City had been considered overwhelming favourites to secure Anderson’s signature. Pep Guardiola’s side identified the midfielder as their top summer target and are preparing a second bid after Forest rejected an opening offer of £80m. Etihad executives privately expect to win the race.

According to The Guardian, however, United believe Anderson has not yet made a final decision and remain confident he can be persuaded to choose the red half of Manchester. The pitch from Old Trafford is built around fresh leadership: Michael Carrick, appointed United’s permanent head coach last month, has made midfield reinforcement his top priority following the departure of Casemiro and with Manuel Ugarte’s exit also on the table.

Ederson, the Brazilian midfielder signed from Atalanta in a £35m deal, is United’s first acquisition of the summer window. Carrick is understood to want at least one further midfield arrival before the season begins, and the new head coach is said to view Anderson as the kind of generational talent capable of anchoring his rebuild for years.

Other names on United’s shortlist include Matheus Fernandes of West Ham, Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. But sources close to the club describe Anderson as the priority — the one player on the board United would break the bank to land.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said last week that he believed his old club still held the edge in the race. “City have always been brilliant at closing these deals when they need to,” Richards observed. “But United have a story to sell now — new manager, new direction. That changes the conversation.”

Anderson, meanwhile, is in England’s squad preparing for the World Cup and is expected to play a central role for Thomas Tuchel’s side. United’s board is reported to be hopeful any decision will come once the tournament concludes — giving Carrick a full pre-season to integrate his new midfield core.

For now, the message from inside Old Trafford is clear: Ederson was step one. Anderson is the prize.