Manchester United’s executives are optimistic they can beat Manchester City in the race to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is valued at about £100m by his club. City had an initial £80m bid rejected by Forest, opening the door for United to try to persuade the 23-year-old England international to move to Old Trafford rather than the Etihad.
Anderson, who is expected to start in England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia on 17 June, is considered a favourite to join City. But United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, is also monitoring West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes as another midfield option. West Ham want around £80m for the 21-year-old Portuguese, though that fee may prove unrealistic.
“Manchester United are optimistic they can beat Manchester City to sign £100m-rated Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson after City's £80m bid was rejected.”
United have already agreed a €40.5m (£35m) deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Éderson, who will be paid about £70,000 a week. Anderson’s current salary at Forest is considerably higher at around £100,000 a week, and he can expect a 50% increase on that whichever Manchester club he joins. Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s drive to trim costs at United, the co-owner is prepared to meet Anderson’s wage demands if he chooses United over City.
Anderson has a contract until June 2029 but is widely expected to leave this summer. Fernandes, who was paid about £70,000 a week at West Ham, saw that cut by 50% after the club’s relegation from the Premier League last month, meaning any salary he would receive at United would fit into Ratcliffe’s desired budget. Wilcox was Southampton’s director of football when Fernandes signed for the south-coast club in August 2024, and his subsequent move to West Ham was overseen by Kyle Macaulay, then West Ham’s head of recruitment, who later joined United as head of senior scouting.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are advancing in talks over a deal worth about £60m for Manchester City’s Brazil winger Savinho, 22. City are also weighing up moves for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, 25, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, 26. Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are best positioned to sign Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella, 26, who is keen on a change after four years at Stamford Bridge.
Newcastle are monitoring Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, 22, should Sandro Tonali or Joe Willock leave this summer. Manchester United scouts assessed Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito, 20, in a recent Italy friendly. Paris St-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, 27, wants to join Juventus after a loan spell there in 2025. Liverpool have Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio, 24, on their list to replace departing defender Ibrahima Konate. Atalanta are in talks with Forest over a deal to bring Italian centre-back Nicolo Savona, 23, back to Serie A. AC Milan are set for a second round of talks with former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner to become their new coach.