Manchester United have been urged to step away from a reported summer pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, despite a public endorsement from club legend Rio Ferdinand and widespread transfer speculation valuing the England contender at around £100 million.
Anderson, who has emerged as one of Forest’s most consistent performers this season and is tipped to be in England’s starting XI for the World Cup, has repeatedly tried to dampen transfer talk. “Obviously we’ve got the World Cup this summer so all my eyes are on that,” he said, adding he remains focused on “a season left with Forest” and wants to keep his standards high ahead of international duty. Those comments come as reports link both Manchester United and Manchester City with the 100m valuation, with City widely touted as favourites to land the midfield target as part of a wider rebuild.
Not everyone agrees that Anderson is ready for a move to one of England’s biggest clubs. Former Premier League defender Danny Mills told talkSPORT that, in his view, Anderson is “way off it” at international level and questioned whether he is the best candidate to help a team win major honours. “Do I look at Anderson and go: ‘He is the best player in the position in the country’ — he’s way off it,” Mills said, also invoking Blackburn’s Adam Wharton as another emerging name in the conversation.
Ferdinand, however, has publicly backed Anderson as a strong fit for Manchester United’s midfield needs, arguing the 23-year-old combines robustness, energy and character. “Elliot Anderson, he seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he’s a wonderful player,” Ferdinand said, singling him out over other high-profile midfield prospects such as Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães. Ferdinand described the type of player United require as “all-action” — capable of covering ground, driving a team and adding physical presence — traits he believes Anderson ticks.
The contrasting views underline a wider debate about risk and readiness in the summer transfer market. United are understood to be planning midfield reinforcements, but the club must weigh Andersen’s club form and international potential against concerns about how quickly a high-profile move and accompanying price tag would translate into consistent performances at Old Trafford. Manchester City’s reported interest complicates matters further, with Pep Guardiola’s side seen by some outlets as the likely destination should Forest’s valuation be met.
For now, Anderson’s stance is clear: his immediate priority is performing for Nottingham Forest and earning a spot with England at the World Cup. That focus, coupled with differing expert opinions, suggests any summer decision over a big-money switch could hinge on how he finishes the current campaign and how national-team displays shape perceptions of his readiness for the step up.