Manchester United remain confident they can beat Manchester City to the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is valued at around £100m. The 23-year-old, expected to start for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia on 17 June, has been the subject of an initial £80m bid from City, which Forest rejected.
United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, is also monitoring West Ham's Mateus Fernandes as an alternative, though the Hammers' £80m valuation may prove unrealistic. Fernandes, 21, saw his wages halved after West Ham's relegation, making him a more budget-friendly option for United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Anderson currently earns about £100,000 a week at Forest and can expect a 50% increase regardless of which Manchester club he joins. Ratcliffe is prepared to meet those demands if the former Newcastle player chooses United over City. Anderson's contract runs until June 2029, but he is widely expected to leave this summer.
United have already agreed a €40.5m (£35m) deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Éderson, 26, who will earn around £70,000 a week. Meanwhile, Casemiro's expected move to Inter Miami faces complications as LA Galaxy hold his discovery rights and Inter lack a designated player berth, though club officials are confident of resolving the issues.
