The powerbrokers at Manchester United do not want to get drawn into a bidding war for Elliot Anderson, but the Nottingham Forest midfielder could prove to be worth every penny of a nine-figure transfer fee this summer.
Anderson's Display Against Aston Villa
Whether the VAR officials got it right by not intervening after Elliot Anderson violently sent his studs into Ollie Watkins' right ankle has been the subject of fierce debate. What is not up for debate is that had VAR stepped in and prompted a red card, Nottingham Forest would not be heading to Villa Park with an advantage in their Europa League semi-final.
Anderson has been very good all season, but his display against Villa — before and after what was a very fortunate reprieve — should have confirmed to any doubters that he is the real deal. Yet there remain a few doubters. For all the plaudits, the bottom line is that Anderson is central to a team still in danger of relegation to the Championship. He must share some responsibility for that position.
Taking Responsibility and Collymore's Verdict
But taking responsibility is just one of the many things Anderson does well. Among pundits, Stan Collymore is a fine judge of a player. His social media verdict on Anderson after the Villa performance was spot-on: "10/10 starter. Rolls Royce who will be England captain and an important one at that."
The statistics backed up the visual evidence at the City Ground. Anderson topped the charts for the most touches, most successful passes, most passes into the final third, most possessions won, most fouls won, and most tackles won. That last category included the challenge on Watkins, which referee Joao Pinheiro deemed fair. Thomas Tuchel might have a quiet word about over-robustness, but his physical approach is unlikely to concern the England manager.
Anderson's England Potential
Against Villa, Anderson showed why he now belongs in the bracket of automatic England choices alongside Jordan Pickford, Declan Rice, and Harry Kane. In the same game, Morgan Rogers did not solidify his claim for a starting spot, but Morgan Gibbs-White enhanced his contention for a squad slot.
Anderson not only highlighted his future importance to the national team but also reinforced the belief of the Forest hierarchy that he is worth a nine-figure fee when powerhouse clubs inevitably come calling this summer. The word from Old Trafford is that its recruitment and finance departments would balk at a fee exceeding £100 million. However, just as Declan Rice was worth every penny of his £105 million fee to Arsenal almost three years ago, £100 million for Anderson would be money well spent.
Statistical Comparison with Rice
In all matches this season, Anderson has won possession 10+ times in a match on 12 occasions — five more than the next Premier League player, Dominik Szoboszlai. When Rice moved to Arsenal, he was 23. Anderson is 23. His mental fortitude is beyond question; Anderson is still grieving the recent tragic loss of his wonderful mother, Helen.
The young man might want to continue his development at Forest, especially if they stay in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League. But the demand for his services will be hard to resist, both for him and his club. He would be a perfect fit for a United team looking to re-establish itself as a formidable domestic and European force. They simply need to pay what it takes.
