The unprecedented step that United were prepared to take to win Elliot Anderson race – The Athletic

Manchester United were reportedly prepared to make an extraordinary concession to win the race for England midfielder Elliot Anderson. United miss out Heading into the summer window, United had earmarked Anderson as their priority midfield target. However, it became increasingly clear that cross-town rivals Manchester City were also in the running for his signature. The Nottingham Forest man prioritised a move to City over United, although this did not fully deter the Red Devils. United, however, quickly retreated from the chase once the scale of the financial commitment became apparent. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was minded to obtain a guaranteed fee that eclipsed the £125m that Liverpool paid to land Alexander Isak from Newcastle last summer. With Carrick’s squad requiring at least two, perhaps three, new midfielders this summer, they are simply not in a position to channel that much of their budget into one player. City eventually agreed a deal with Forest for Anderson. City will pay £116m for the 23-year-old, who is set to earn a massive £300k per week at the Etihad. Now, The Athletic report that United were ready to offer Anderson future captaincy in an attempt to lure him to Old Trafford. Major compromise The news outlet reveals, “Manchester United enquired and even discussed the prospect of making Anderson captain at some point in the future.” “United saw him as having that kind of leadership ability in the years to come, albeit no guarantees were made and he would have had to deliver on the pitch.” “But in the end, they decided the transfer fee involved was more than they wanted to pay.” United have also missed out on Mateus Fernandes, whose arrival at rival Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur was recently announced. Other targets believed to be on United’s radar include Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille). United struck an agreement with Atalanta for Ederson, whose move will officially get over the line after Brazil’s involvement in the World Cup. Featured image Carl Recine 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 Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!