Elliot Anderson has been packaged as the perfect heir to Casemiro. Nottingham Forest’s midfield dynamo is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s most exciting talents. The Tricky Trees’ engine room leader tops the league for duels won, forward passes, and passing accuracy, emerging as the league’s true pass master. Equally impressive is his versatility: Anderson can operate as a central midfielder or drop deeper into a defensive role. Yet it is his defensive qualities that would most appeal to the Red Devils, as he snuffs out opposition attacks before launching his side’s own. While he appears a ready-made successor to Casemiro, and INEOS may be prepared to break the bank to secure his services, one formidable obstacle stands in their way: Manchester City. Manchester battle for Anderson The race for the former Newcastle United star is already shaping into a Manchester derby of its own. INEOS would welcome any advantage in their pursuit of the phenomenal Premier League talent. Whispers of Pep Guardiola’s potential departure from City had been viewed as a “vital edge” for United. After all, Guardiola himself is a magnet for top players, many of whom would leap at the chance to play under his guidance. ”People who are well placed, think that Guardiola is going to be leaving” The Back Pages Tonight panel discuss Manchester City’s season and Pep Guardiola’s future 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CajwqhSWcz — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 2, 2026 Without him, City seemed to lose their most persuasive weapon in convincing Anderson to join. Anderson favouring City switch However, according to Teamtalk, that assumption may be misplaced. They report that even if Guardiola leaves, Anderson remains keen on a move to the Etihad, being open to the idea of still thriving under Guardiola’s heirs: “Within the Man City squad and the Premier League (Players) are understood to be enthusiastic about the prospect of working under either Alonso or Fabregas, viewing them as exciting figures to lead a refreshed era at the Etihad. “That excitement stretches to Anderson, who views the potential switch to the Etihad as the ideal next step for his career and playing under Alonso or Fabregas, in particular, interests him.” With Anderson seeing City as the ideal next step, the report adds that the club are ready to sanction a big-money summer move to secure his services. United ready for anything This revelation will undoubtedly worry the Old Trafford faithful. Yet contingency plans are already in place at M16 as United doubt their chances of signing the England international. “Red Devils are pivoting towards other targets, including Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton,” reveals Teamtalk. United cannot afford to neglect their midfield any longer. Reinforcements have been overdue, with only Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte as the only defensive midfielders added in the past seven years. Missing out on Anderson would be a significant setback, but it is unlikely to derail the 20-time English champions’ broader transfer strategy. Featured image Jack Thomas via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.
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