‘Already talking with agents’: Romano says INEOS are now taking concrete steps in pursuit of England int’l

It now looks almost set in stone that Elliot Anderson will end up at one of the Manchester clubs when he inevitably departs Nottingham Forest this summer.While the Midlands outfit will do their utmost to keep hold of the coveted star, there will be an acceptance behind the scenes that he’s ready to embark on a new venture after two seasons at the City Ground.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYAnderson transfer prompts tug-of-war between arch-rivalsFrom there, Anderson will have his pick of Manchester United or Manchester City.Other sides are expected to be in the mix, but based on the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, it does look as though he’s North West-bound.Even his former and boyhood club, Newcastle United, would relish the opportunity of bringing him back to Tyneside, but you’d imagine Champions League qualification will be essential for the 23-year-old. Appearances Starts Goal contributions Minutes played 114 79 15 7,123 Anderson’s combined record for Newcastle and Forest, courtesy of TransfermarktMeanwhile, the Reds have to claim just six points from their final five matches to ensure their spot in Europe’s elite competition is secure for next term.How Anderson fared in matchweek 33Anderson oversaw yet another tremendous showing on Sunday, despite the fixture coming in the same week he lost his beloved mother, Helen.In what was a must-win contest for the Trees in their bid to avoid relegation, they completed a full second-half turnaround to trump Burnley 4-1 on home soil, leaving them five points above the 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.As for Anderson’s stellar shift, he made 12 final-third passes and dispatched four accurate long balls, while also making seven recoveries, three tackles and one clearance. He won nine ground duels and three aerial duels in the 90-minute affair (Fotmob).The latest on Anderson amid United and City talksFabrizio Romano had provided an update on the seven-capped England international’s transfer interest over the weekend, saying on his YouTube channel: “Manchester City already started talking with the agents of the player, but Manchester United remain in conversations for Elliot Anderson. Manchester United are not giving up.“They know that Manchester City started their plan to sign the player a long time ago, but until the deal is done, Man United want to be there. Man United want to try, and they believe that having the opportunity eventually to offer Champions League football to the player could be important in order to try to get closer to Manchester City in this race.“But what can make the difference is the negotiation with Nottingham Forest, and who’s going to pay what Nottingham Forest want.”