Man United set sights on Elliot Anderson for summer - Forest value at £80-100m

Nottingham Forest have shut the door on a January exit for Elliot Anderson, but the headline is clear: Manchester United still have him top of their midfield list and are preparing a summer push. Forest’s valuation sits between £80-100m amid strong competition from Man City, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. From my years in midfield, Anderson’s press resistance, carrying through traffic and ability to punch passes between lines make him a natural fit for United’s left-sided No.8 role. The price is premium, the timing is summer, and the belief from United is real. If they sell the project convincingly, this one lines up to happen.

The situation unfolds as the winter window opens with Nottingham Forest setting a firm summer-first stance for Anderson. His form since moving to Forest has elevated his market standing, drawing interest from England and Germany. United’s recruitment group have kept Anderson as the preferred profile for a dynamic, press-resistant No.8, while Forest protect their asset with an £80-100m valuation. With multiple suitors circling and domestic registration rules heightening the premium on homegrown talent, the pathway points to an end-of-season battle rather than a mid-season exit.

🚨 JUST IN: Elliott Anderson will not leave Nottingham Forest in January - the price tag will reach between £80/100M. There are many interested clubs: Man United, Man City, Chelsea & Bayern Munich among many others. Anderson remains at the top of United's midfield shortlist.

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

For Manchester United, Anderson ticks multiple strategic boxes: homegrown, Premier League-proven, versatile across the 8-10 channels and comfortable under pressure. In a United midfield that still needs more ball progression and reliable off-ball work, he offers a blend that shortens the pitch. He carries through contact, draws markers, and releases runners - qualities that allow wingers and the No.9 to receive in better zones. In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, he profiles best as a left-sided 8 who can rotate into the half-space and arrive at the edge of the box.

Forest’s stance is equally rational. They bought smart, developed well, and now hold a high-value asset in a market where English talent commands a premium. An £80-100m fee would reshape their summer - funding depth, adding pace in wide areas, and reinforcing at full back without breaking their wage structure. With Man City and Chelsea lurking, Forest are incentivized to let a bidding process breathe rather than rush a January deal.

Across the league, this potential move underlines a broader trend: elite English clubs chasing press-resistant midfielders who can play through a high block. United’s urgency is clear, but timing is key. A summer move avoids January premiums, allows for structured payments, and gives the player a full preseason to integrate.

Reaction

The early fan mood splits along two lines. One group calls £80-100m a fair price in today’s market for a homegrown midfielder who is trending upwards and stacking key metrics for his role. Another group balks at the fee, asking whether United - without Champions League football this season - can outmuscle rivals like City and Chelsea without overpaying.

There’s also the squad-building angle. Some supporters argue to pause on other forward targets if it risks losing Anderson, believing his profile is rarer and more decisive to United’s style. Others toss in comparisons and alternatives - Antoine Semenyo’s athleticism, Matheus Cunha’s directness, Bryan Mbeumo’s end product - but concede none replicate Anderson’s mix of ball security and carry in central traffic.

From what I’m hearing and what fans echo, the consensus is building: if United can lay out a clear role and minutes, Anderson will see the pathway. The fee divides opinions, the fit does not.

Social reactions

This is who we need! I like the idea of semenyo but if it means missing out on Elliot to buy semenyo, I would wait to sign Elliot!

The Red Phantom (@RedPhantomUtd)

Ruben Neves gbewa🫠

Jack silach⌘ (@jackaZen)

Should not be touching anywhere near 50

abed tarraf (@TarrafAbed)

Prediction

Short term, nothing changes in January - Forest keep Anderson. Behind the scenes, expect United to sharpen their pitch: defined role at left 8, leadership pathway, an English core, and a contract structure that rewards output. Personal terms are rarely the sticking point in these cases. The structure of the fee is.

Most likely scenario: United move early in the summer, aiming to set the market before City and Chelsea force a bidding spiral. An initial fixed fee in the £65-75m range, plus performance and appearance add-ons, could climb toward Forest’s £80-100m valuation. Forest will want strong add-ons tied to appearances and team objectives, plus a sell-on. United will push for a deal before pre-season to give Anderson a full runway.

Fallbacks exist - United have long lists - but my read is simple. Barring a late twist, United end up in pole position and close this in the summer window. The sporting case is strong, the stylistic fit is obvious, and the club’s recruitment strategy points right at Anderson’s profile.

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Conclusion

I’ve played with and against midfielders who change the rhythm of a match without always making the headlines. Anderson has that feel. He moves a team up the pitch five yards with a touch, then buys a forward an extra second with a disguised pass. United crave those micro-advantages between the lines, and he supplies them.

Forest are right to protect value and time the sale. United are right to keep knocking. This isn’t a January sprint - it’s a summer marathon. If United stay disciplined on structure and sell the football plan, they will be hard to beat in this race. The price will sting. The fit should soothe it. In a squad that needs control and vertical threat from midfield, Anderson is the piece that makes the rest of the board neater.