Manchester United have stepped back from pursuing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson after Manchester City submitted a verbal offer worth £106 million, with an additional £15 million in potential add-ons. The total package would surpass the £105 million Arsenal paid for Declan Rice in 2023.
United had identified Anderson as a leading midfield target alongside City, but the 23-year-old England international has favoured a move to the Etihad. The Old Trafford recruitment team considers the fee too high and has no intention of entering a bidding war for the player, who is currently with England in Florida ahead of the World Cup.
United have already secured the signing of 26-year-old Ederson from Atalanta for £35 million, with a further £3.8 million in add-ons. The Brazilian is set to sign a four-year contract with an option for an extra year after his World Cup campaign ends.
Attention has now turned to other midfield targets who are believed to want to join United. West Ham's 21-year-old Mateus Fernandes is at the top of the list, while Bournemouth's Alex Scott is also of interest. Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni is admired but appears likely to stay at the Bernabéu following the appointment of José Mourinho as manager.
United plan to sign at least one more midfielder after Ederson, and could pursue a third if they manage to sell Manuel Ugarte, who is with Uruguay at the World Cup and attracting interest from European clubs. The only scenario in which United would revisit Anderson is if his move to City collapses.
