Manchester United set sights on Angelo Stiller and Elliot Anderson in two-midfielder plan for 2025

Manchester United have moved early on a two-midfielder rebuild for 2025, with Angelo Stiller and Elliot Anderson rising to the top of the shortlist. Senior figures Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox rate Stiller’s control and Anderson’s Premier League readiness. Crucially, Anderson’s price is expected to drop in the summer due to provisions in his contract, making a warm-weather window move far cleaner than a January squeeze. United see Stiller as the metronome to stabilise first phase build-up and Anderson as the aggressive carrier to connect to Bruno Fernandes. The plan is coherent, targeted and already gathering momentum.

Under the Ineos-led restructure, Manchester United’s recruitment has pivoted toward 21-24 age profiles with high development upside and clear stylistic roles. Technical leadership from Jason Wilcox and strategic input from Christopher Vivell have produced a concise midfield brief: add one controller and one high-energy carrier in 2025. Angelo Stiller, a standout in VfB Stuttgart’s possession framework, fits the controller brief. Elliot Anderson, now at Nottingham Forest after leaving Newcastle, offers Premier League-tested intensity and tactical flexibility. Internal planning notes highlight that contractual provisions make an Anderson deal materially cheaper in summer compared to January. United maintain regular dialogue with intermediaries, and recent smooth cooperation with EFL sides on youth pathways reflects a broader, joined-up recruitment strategy.

🚨 BREAKING: Manchester United want a 2 midfielders next year! Angelo Stiller is high in Man United’s thinking and is appreciated by Christopher Vivell and Jason Wilcox. Elliot Anderson will be cheaper in the summer in comparison to January due to provisions in his contract

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Targeting Angelo Stiller and Elliot Anderson solves two long-standing issues in United’s midfield: a lack of consistent tempo control in the first phase and insufficient two-way running to support Bruno Fernandes in advanced zones. Stiller profiles as a low-variance passer who receives under pressure, plays forward on minimal touches, and tidies transitions before they become counters. At Stuttgart he has thrived in a high-possession, vertical system, which mirrors what United seek when building out with two centre-backs and a single pivot dropping between lines. His presence should stabilise Kobbie Mainoo’s development by sharing build-up responsibilities while protecting the back four from avoidable turnovers.

Anderson offers what the current squad too often lacks when games get chaotic: ball carrying from the middle third, repeated sprints to press or recover, and simple, quick combinations that move the block. At Nottingham Forest he has been used as an 8 and wide tucked-in option, which adds shape flexibility for match plans that switch between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. The financial angle matters too. With summer clauses easing his fee, United can allocate more headroom to structure a deal for Stiller, whose club are historically more open to summer exits once objectives are secured. Together, these moves would lower the team’s error rate on the ball, push Bruno into higher-value touch maps, and give United a sustainable, age-balanced midfield core.

Reaction

Fan sentiment is broadly upbeat, with a clear preference for action and clarity. Many welcome the shift toward young, system-fit midfielders rather than headline-chasing buys. A vocal segment pushes a Stiller-Anderson double, arguing it finally gives Bruno Fernandes license to stay between the lines instead of firefighting deep. Others float Carlos Baleba as the ideal energy boost, framing a Baleba-Stiller pivot as a modern mix of dynamism and control. There’s also the predictable impatience: several call for a January signing to stabilise results now, even if it costs extra.

Some contrarian notes appear too. A minority question Anderson’s end product and wonder if Forest would even green-light a mid-season move. A few toss in fantasy targets like Tonali, though the logic conflicts with the club’s current age and salary model. What’s interesting is the tone: more demands for a clear plan, fewer nostalgic pleas. The comments praise the underlying recruitment spine, pointing to Wilcox and Vivell for finally aligning profiles with tactics. In short, fans see a coherent plan and want it executed without dithering. The margin for patience is thin, but the appetite for this exact profile mix is strong.

Social reactions

I need two of them in the summer

UTD defend (@UTDdefend)

Stiller... Another wirtz no way!!

treasure trust (@retiredgen2man)

Good to see the club targeting young, talented midfielders 🔥👏 We’re finally moving in the right direction smart recruitment over big names! ❤️💪 #MUFC

Old Trafford Updates (@news_united_)

Prediction

Two realistic pathways emerge. Scenario 1 - January plus summer: United push for one midfielder in January, most logically the lower-cost option if Forest’s stance softens on Anderson, then complete Stiller in early summer once Stuttgart’s season closes. This requires room in the wage and amortisation plan, but it spreads the integration curve and reduces spring volatility.

Scenario 2 - Double summer strike: United lock verbal agreements early and execute both transfers in June-July. This fits the cost logic around Anderson’s clauses and Stuttgart’s preference to sell after the campaign. It also gives the staff a full pre-season to embed new build-up patterns with Stiller at the base and Anderson rotating as an 8/wing overload.

Contingencies are already scoped. If Stuttgart dig in, United can pivot to similar controllers in the Bundesliga or Ligue 1 who meet the same press-resistance thresholds. If Forest’s position changes or another Premier League club bids, United keep a shortlist of high-intensity eights, with Brighton’s Baleba admired but expensive in January. Probability wise, a double summer move is the most logical, cleaner on price, and higher on tactical cohesion. Expect groundwork in the next weeks, medical logistics pre-planned, and swift execution once the window opens.

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Conclusion

For once, the pieces fit. A controller who calms games and a runner who drags teams apart - exactly what United’s midfield has lacked in tough away fixtures and in home matches where composure evaporates after the first press. Angelo Stiller brings reliable first-pass solutions and positional discipline. Elliot Anderson adds the repeat running and carrying to link Kobbie Mainoo to Bruno Fernandes without leaving the back door open. The recruitment team are aligning targets with the game model, not just names with headlines.

Financially, the summer is the sweet spot, particularly with Anderson’s price dynamics. Strategically, the January temptation will linger, but it only makes sense if the fee and pathway do not compromise the broader plan. Either way, these are not speculative punts. They are role-based signings that reduce volatility, lift technical security, and give the manager a midfield that fits the Premier League’s rhythm. Expect noise, bids from rivals, and the usual brinkmanship. Also expect United to be ready, because this time the plan is specific, realistic, and built to land.