Make no mistake: after another scintillating display against Manchester United on Sunday, Elliot Anderson is the Premier League’s man of the moment – and the name on many big clubs’ lips ahead of the transfer window opening in four weeks’ time.
Sold to Nottingham Forest by Newcastle in 2024 for just £15million so the Saudi-owned club could avoid breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules, the young Englishman has gone from strength to strength.
An admirable feat, given the uncertainty that has surrounded Forest since his arrival, including adapting to four different managers and management styles in a single season.
Now, with this summer’s World Cup fast approaching, the 23-year-old is poised to play a pivotal role in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad as England bid to end six decades of hurt and finally bring football’s greatest prize home once again.
With Anderson at the centre of an inevitable summer transfer tug-of-war, Daily Mail Sport’s Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal reporters each make the case for why the clubs they cover should – or perhaps should not – move for the in-demand midfielder ahead of next season…
Manchester United – Nathan Salt
Manchester United’s pitch to Elliot Anderson should be straightforward.
Come and play for the biggest club in England and play a central role in returning them to Premier League title winners.
Anderson’s Old Trafford audition on Sunday – even though one wasn’t needed given he has been top of their target board for 12 months – was an overwhelming success; a performance that showed why he is developing into the complete midfielder United are crying out for.
There would be familiarity with many of his England team-mates already on United’s books and his close relationship with Kobbie Mainoo must be appealing.
United desperately need a ball winner and no player has won possession more this season than Anderso
United desperately need a ball winner and no player has won possession more this season than Anderson. United also need to make a statement to the rest of the league that they are soon to be contending for the biggest prizes again. Getting Anderson achieves that.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and United’s hierarchy got to watch Anderson’s masterclass at Old Trafford and will have left further emboldened that this is the guy you go ahead and build a midfield around.
His temperament appeals to every manager he has worked with and is a key reason why he will be one of the first names on the team sheet for England at the World Cup next summer.
United have a lot of needs this summer and Anderson will be incredibly expensive but United will be kicking themselves for years to come if they can’t find a way to bring Anderson to Old Trafford this summer.
Manchester City – Jack Gaughan
There has been a steady flow of City signings in recent years who can operate as both holding midfielders and more progressive No 8s, moves designed to look ahead in worlds without the likes of Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
But other than blooding in Nico O’Reilly, they have never quite found somebody who can excel in both areas. Mateo Kovacic has been the closest to fulfilling that role, and gave them real impetus in the FA Cup final, yet has never quite timed his pressure on the ball from the No 6 position to Pep Guardiola’s liking.
You would imagine Anderson, a 23-year-old that all the big clubs across Europe have been looking at, fits the bill better and presents a safer bet – especially given the amount of defensive work he needs to complete at Forest.
Anderson’s signing would offer more flexibility for others, giving them somebody who is as adept at breaking play as moving the ball forward quickly.
The pitch is quite straightforward: it is 17 major trophies in the last nine years and the attention to detail is such that any succession planning for the next chapter will have been completed long ago.
The Man City pitch is quite straightforward: it is 17 major trophies in the last nine years
Arsenal – Isaan Khan
Anderson is a fine midfielder who would improve most current Premier League sides.
That is obvious. Yet, for a fee in excess of £80million, it would make no financial sense at all for Arsenal.
They already have Declan Rice, who offers everything Anderson does — and more, in both the attacking aspect and defensively.
Martin Zubimendi, who is part of Arsenal’s engine room, has tailed off of late but was tremendous in the first of this season. His ability to control matches and pickpockets complements Rice well.
And then there is the factor of Myles Lewis-Skelly who has been massively underused this season.
The teenager played in midfield for the first time in his senior career earlier this month. Even Mikel Arteta admitted this was short-sighted, saying maybe he ‘doesn’t have a clue’.
Since then, Lewis-Skelly has made a further two consecutive starts and admired by Manchester United. The Gunners should focus on sharing game time between Lewis-Skelly and Zubimendi for the next campaign to keep the young Englishman at the club, not draft in Anderson.
