Manchester United are prepared to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City for Elliot Anderson this summer – and a major twist in the tale at the Etihad may have just opened the door for INEOS to push ahead in the red-hot race for the midfield maestro. “One of the best” England manager Thomas Tuchel believes Anderson, 23, has emerged as “one of the best midfielders” in the Premier League since joining Nottingham Forest in 2023. Described as an “elite player” by the 52-year-old German, Anderson is primed to play a pivotal role for the Three Lions alongside Arsenal powerhouse Declan Rice at the World Cup in North America. Crucially, he will start as the No.6, with Rice operating as the No.8 and Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers ahead of the pair in the No.10 position – the exact set-up and role United envision for him at Old Trafford. The Red Devils are focusing on a revamp in midfield in INEOS’ third summer window at the helm, with the most pressing priority being the identification – and capture – of the heir to Casemiro, who is set to leave once his contract expires in June. Anderson, an all-action dynamo with the ability to thrive across every phase of play, is the leading candidate, though a number of alternatives – Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton and Mateus Fernandes to name but a few – are also under consideration. United are ready to open formal negotiations to strike a deal for Anderson. But they are acutely aware of City’s shared interest in the Forest talisman, with the noisy neighbours viewing the Englishman as a long-term successor to Rodri. The Spain international, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid as he approaches the final year of his contract. Well-placed sources indicate the Citizens are frontrunners for Anderson’s signature, with noises emanating out of the blue half of Manchester suggesting confidence in fending off their rivals in the red half. But a key part of their sales pitch, and one Anderson is understood to be drawn to, is the chance to work under the best manager in world football in the 21st century not named Sir Alex Ferguson – and this week’s bombshell update confirms this will no longer be possible. Guardiola’s getaway Despite Guardiola’s contract at the Etihad having twelve months remaining, the Spaniard is set to call time on his City tenure at the end of this campaign. His former acolyte Mikel Arteta has propelled Arsenal to the title, though he will leave with a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup triumph already in the bag. However, there remains the ominous backdrop of the 115 charges – which actually stands at 134 in total – levelled at City by the Premier League over breaches of financial rules. “The charges cover four areas: a failure to give ‘a true and fair view of the club’s financial position’; a failure to ‘include full details’ of player and manager remuneration; breaches of national and continental financial fair play regulations; and a failure to ‘cooperate with, and assist, the Premier League in its investigations’,” The Guardian reports. The financial breaches are said to have taken place between 2009 and 2018, overlapping with the first two years of Guardiola’s time with City. The charges of failing to comply with the Premier League’s investigation stretch from December 2018 to February 2023. The BBC reports there is “no suggestion” that he was aware of any alleged wrongdoing, though his legacy in English football will be defined by the independent commission’s ruling. If City are cleared, it will remain untarnished; if guilty, Guardiola will be too by extension. Perhaps this is as strong a driving factor on his decision to depart, given the disciplinary hearing for the case was heard almost 18 months ago and the publishing of a final decision is said to be expected sooner rather than later. Or maybe he is simply ready to bid adieu to English football. Either way, the result remains the same: one of the most alluring parts of playing for Manchester City will no longer be a part of Manchester City next week. Different priorities without Pep? Enzo Maresca has already agreed to take the reins from Guardiola, having previously been his assistant at the Etihad. But the former Chelsea manager is understood to already be eyeing a reunion with Blues midfielder Enzo Fernandez after their shared time together at Stamford Bridge. TEAMtalk reports the Argentina international would “likely jump at the chance” to play under Maresca again, with City having already identified him as a potential target this summer before the news about Guardiola broke. Where Anderson appeared the priority under Pep, Fernandez may emerge as the new one with Enzo at the wheel. And even City’s illicitly generated treasures will not be deep enough to fund two separate £100m raids for Premier League midfielders. Final Thoughts – Red Pill vs Blue Pill If we rewind to the Christmas period, the contrasting projects on offer at Old Trafford and the Etihad would not have made pleasant viewing for a United fan. But five months on, with the tumultuous tenure of Ruben Amorim replaced by Michael Carrick’s impressive interim spell, and Champions League qualification in the bag, the picture is far rosier. City have lost their Commander-in-Chief. Their squad looks at its weakest in a decade, with pivotal figures like Bernardo Silva and John Stones set to depart without obvious replacements. A potentially era-defining judgement off the pitch is looming in the background that would have a devastating impact on it. Yes, Mr Anderson will earn more if he chooses the blue pill over the red pill. But the offer INEOS can extend – to lead a revolution at England’s biggest club under the watch of a fellow Wallsend native and former midfield maestro, while still earning huge wages with enormous sponsorship opportunities – is growing in strength by the week. United’s success moving forward will depend almost entirely on how effectively they overhaul their midfield this summer. Anderson is the building block which will propel the club back to the pinnacle of domestic and European football; he is ‘The One’ – and sporting director Jason Wilcox must channel his inner-Morpheus to convince him to realise his destiny. Featured image Dan Istidene 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.