Manchester United aims to sign Anderson for £60 million in the winter transfer window, but Nottingham Forest firmly refuses! They demand at least £80 million or no deal.

The 22-year-old England international Elliott Anderson once again enhanced his reputation in last weekend's match against Manchester United. Facing the Red Devils who were chasing a fourth consecutive win, his performance was outstanding and impressive. Anderson controlled the midfield at the City Ground, with Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim watching from the sidelines, later chatting and joking with him after the match to build rapport. British media reports that Amorim has become obsessed with Anderson.

Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have recently worked well together in midfield, but Anderson demonstrated his strength and resilience, making 84 touches in 90 minutes, including 3 touches inside Manchester United’s penalty area. He forced Casemiro into committing multiple fouls; statistics show Anderson was fouled 3 times, the highest in his team, while Casemiro committed 3 fouls, also the most for his side.

After the match, British media quickly reported that Manchester United plans to sign Anderson next year and even hopes to accelerate the process during the January transfer window to outpace rivals. "Teamtalk" reported that Manchester United is willing to offer £60 million. Their report stated: "Manchester United is intensifying their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliott Anderson, considering him the main and realistic target for the January transfer window, currently preparing a bid."

Manchester United’s confidence in signing Anderson is supported by multiple reasons. Insiders reveal the player himself is very interested in moving to Manchester United, eager to play at the highest level and to become a star at a big club. This shared ambition could play a key role in the negotiations.

However, Nottingham Forest, who need to avoid relegation, clearly intends to reject any offers for their current top star. British media state that Forest has made it clear: for Anderson, either pay a huge transfer fee or forget it.

Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in 2024 for £35 million on a five-year contract. It is reported that Nottingham Forest’s asking price is around £80 million and they absolutely will not accept any lower offers, especially in the mid-season January window. Whether both sides can reach an agreement remains to be seen, but it is more likely to be postponed until the summer.

Anderson’s price tag has already deterred his former club Newcastle United. Their manager Eddie Howe said: "Football is no longer about emotions; it’s all about finances. We haven’t discussed the January transfer window yet and are focusing on the games. Of course, paying such a fee—I’m not sure the club can manage that. The winter window is usually not for big spending, and we always manage rules and finances long-term. We can’t let one transfer disrupt that balance."

British media say that although Anderson has supported Newcastle United since childhood rather than the Red Devils, he is very willing to join Manchester United. He believes his place in the England squad will remain secure even if he transfers in the winter window. He has already replaced Manchester United’s rising star from the European Championship, Cody Meno, becoming one of Thomas Tuchel’s favored midfielders.

Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation requires midfielders to constantly run and provide support on the pitch, and Anderson’s qualities perfectly meet these demands.

Because the full-backs must cover the entire flank alone, when opponents deploy three midfielders, Manchester United’s two central midfielders often find themselves at a disadvantage. This is one reason why Amorim values midfielders with strong attacking and defensive capabilities when signing new players.

However, there are reports that one of Manchester United’s transfer chiefs, Christopher Viveil, does not support spending heavily on Anderson. He prefers players from the Bundesliga and believes that the price of one player in the Premier League could buy two in Germany. But other colleagues disagree, especially since Benjamin Seszko, whom Viveil strongly recommended, was the most expensive signing in the summer window but has integrated the slowest.

Some insiders also note that while Anderson is excellent, as a typical English number 8, he excels at making forward runs and causing disruption in the attacking third. Conversely, playing him as a number 6 would reduce his impact and could place him in a disadvantageous position.

Therefore, Anderson is more suited to replacing Bruno Fernandes rather than Casemiro. Although Anderson has played as a defensive midfielder for the England national team, those opponents were weaker and did not truly test his abilities in that role.