United plotting surprise move for 28-yo midfield demon who plays like “Desailly and Makelele” – report

Manchester United may look to raid Nottingham Forest in the summer to overhaul their midfield. Casemiro has already announced that he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season when his contract expires. Bruno Fernandes is reportedly feeling “upbeat and positive” following Michael Carrick’s arrival, but his long-term future remains uncertain due to his age and expiring contract. Manchester United chasing Elliot Anderson It has been widely reported that Elliot Anderson is Manchester United’s top midfield target. Forest’s midfield metronome has attracted attention with his impressive composure in possession and his ability to progress the ball. The 23-year-old Englishman is one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League. It may take around £100 million to sign the box-to-box dynamo from Forest. However, it must be noted that it is Ibrahim Sangare’s exceptional ground coverage and duel-winning ability that have allowed Anderson the freedom to consistently move higher up the field this season. United would need a defensive midfielder like Casemiro to get the best out of Anderson. Ibrahim Sangare lands on Manchester United’s radar According to Givemesport, United’s recruitment team are assessing potential targets to help replace their Brazilian veteran. It is understood that the Premier League giants have been impressed with Ivory Coast star Ibrahim Sangare “as a player who can bolster defensive midfield.” Signed from PSV for £30m, the 28-year-old has established himself as a regular alongside Anderson in the middle of the park. In 2023, Dutch coach Mario Been compared Ibrahim Sangare to Marcel Desailly and Claude Makelele for his “undervalued” contribution to his side. United should consider the possibility of signing both Anderson and his six-foot-three-inch-tall teammate, Sangare, to add much-needed technical security and robustness to their midfield. Featured image Naomi Baker 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 Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!