Manchester United's £100m U-turn for Elliot Anderson

Manchester United have stepped back into the race for Elliot Anderson, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepared to sanction a £100million move and meet the midfielder’s wage demands in a dramatic transfer U-turn.

United had effectively walked away from negotiations after Nottingham Forest’s valuation and Manchester City’s aggressive pursuit pushed the deal out of reach. Club chiefs at Old Trafford began working on alternative options, convinced Anderson was heading across town to the Etihad.

That assumption has not lasted long.

Ratcliffe ready to pay the price

According to reports, Ratcliffe is now willing to satisfy Anderson’s salary expectations to keep United firmly in the fight with City. The 23-year-old currently earns around £100,000 per week at the City Ground, and any switch to Manchester is expected to come with a 50 per cent pay rise.

City have already seen one bid rejected and are preparing a second offer worth more than £80m. Even that falls short of Forest’s £100m valuation, a figure that could climb if Anderson enjoys a standout World Cup with England.

United’s hierarchy, though, are said to be optimistic they can still beat Pep Guardiola’s side to his signature, despite the scale of the fee and the wages involved.

Midfield rebuild gathers pace

While the Anderson saga twists again, United have not stood still. Atalanta’s Ederson quickly emerged as their primary midfield target once Forest’s stance hardened, and a £38m agreement for the Brazil international has now been completed.

Ederson, who has earned a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad, represents the first piece of a wider midfield overhaul. A second signing in that area is firmly on the agenda, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba all under active consideration.

United had hoped to avoid any World Cup-related delays in that process, yet even Ederson has now been drafted in by Carlo Ancelotti as cover for the injured Wesley, adding another layer of intrigue to their summer planning.

World Cup shop window

Anderson’s tournament could reshape the entire market. He is expected to start for England alongside Declan Rice in their group-stage opener against Croatia, a stage that offers Forest and the player a powerful platform.

A strong World Cup would strengthen Forest’s hand and may embolden them to push for even more than their current nine-figure valuation. City are already edging up towards that mark; United, under new part-owner Ratcliffe, are weighing how far they are prepared to go to back Michael Carrick’s vision for the midfield.

Kobbie Mainoo is likely to serve as the primary back-up to both Rice and Anderson for England, underlining United’s growing influence in Gareth Southgate’s engine room. How long Anderson remains merely a national-team colleague rather than a club teammate is now one of the summer’s key questions.

Rashford future sparks wide search

While United chase Anderson, they are also braced for change in attack. Marcus Rashford, locked in a battle with Anthony Gordon for England’s left-wing berth, remains intent on a permanent move to Barcelona.

That stance has seen him turn down interest from Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and, most recently, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, despite not having played for United in 18 months.

His likely departure has forced United to scan the market for replacements even before any deal is close. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as a possible option, while Yan Diomande was also seriously considered. The RB Leipzig forward now appears more likely to end up at Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool if he moves on.

Like Anderson, Diomande will use the World Cup as a stage. Ivory Coast face Ecuador, Germany and Curacao in the group phase, and a strong campaign would only intensify interest and complicate any pursuit.

United’s summer, then, is being shaped not just in boardrooms and training grounds, but on the biggest stage of all. If Anderson lights up the World Cup as expected, the question will not be whether he leaves Forest – but whether he walks out at Old Trafford or the Etihad when the new season begins.