Manchester United's U-turn on Elliot Anderson as Ratcliffe backs £100m deal
Manchester United’s summer plans have taken a sharp turn, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepared to drive back into the race for Elliot Anderson and sanction a deal that could soar towards £100million.
What looked like a lost cause is suddenly back on the table.
Ratcliffe reopens the door
United’s hierarchy had effectively walked away from Anderson in recent weeks. Nottingham Forest’s towering valuation and Manchester City’s aggressive pursuit forced Old Trafford to pivot, with club chiefs deciding their money was better spent elsewhere.
Atalanta midfielder Ederson became the new obsession. United moved quickly, struck a £38m agreement for the Brazilian, and ticked off the first major midfield signing of the window. His late call-up to the World Cup only underlined the feeling that they had acted at the right time.
That was supposed to be that. Ederson in, Anderson off the board.
Instead, the Anderson file is open again.
According to The Guardian, United remain determined to land the 23-year-old, and there is a growing belief inside the club that they can beat City to his signature. The key shift? Ratcliffe is willing to meet the player’s salary demands.
Anderson currently earns around £100,000 per week at the City Ground. Any move to Manchester – red or blue – is expected to come with a 50 per cent pay rise. United, initially reluctant to stretch that far in a deal already weighed down by Forest’s £100m valuation, are now ready to push.
City’s bids fall short
City have already tested Forest’s resolve. Their first offer was rejected, and a second bid in excess of £80m is being prepared. Even that, though, still sits well below Forest’s asking price.
The dynamic could change again once the World Cup begins.
Anderson is expected to start for England alongside Declan Rice in the group opener against Croatia. A commanding tournament from him on the biggest stage would strengthen Forest’s hand and potentially drive the price even higher, a scenario both Manchester clubs understand all too well.
For United, the calculation is simple: pay now, or risk being priced out later.
Carrick’s midfield rebuild
Behind all this sits Michael Carrick’s determination to reshape his midfield options. Ederson is only the first piece.
United are weighing up a second central addition, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba all on the radar. Each offers a different profile, but Anderson remains the marquee target – the one who would signal that United can still go toe-to-toe with City for elite, Premier League-proven talent.
The pursuit of Anderson, then, is not just about filling a position. It is about power, perception and Ratcliffe’s early statement of intent.
Rashford future clouds wide options
While the club wrestles with midfield decisions, the picture out wide is just as complex.
Marcus Rashford is locked in a straight fight with Anthony Gordon for England’s left-wing berth, but his club future hangs in the balance. He remains intent on a permanent move to Barcelona and has already turned down approaches from Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and, most recently, Bayern Munich.
He has not played for United in 18 months, yet his departure would still leave a sizeable hole on the left. The recruitment team has started to examine in-house and external options, wary of being caught short if Barcelona finally strike a deal.
Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as a possible replacement, his name gaining traction in recent weeks. Yan Diomande was also seriously considered, though the RB Leipzig man now appears more likely to end up at Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool if he leaves Germany.
World Cup stakes
The World Cup threatens to reshape the entire market.
Anderson’s performances for England could dictate whether Forest’s £100m valuation hardens or inflates. Diomande, meanwhile, will be under similar scrutiny as he lines up for Ivory Coast against Ecuador, Germany and Curacao. A strong tournament from either player would only tighten the squeeze on clubs trying to strike value in a market already inflated by Premier League money.
United thought they had dodged that particular complication with Ederson, tying up a deal before his World Cup involvement could shift the numbers. Then Carlo Ancelotti stepped in, selecting the midfielder as cover for the injured Wesley and throwing fresh light on his talent.
That only reinforced United’s belief they had moved at the right moment. The question now is whether they are prepared to do the same with Anderson – pay the premium, accept the risk, and trust that Ratcliffe’s first major gamble in the market will be worth the noise.
