Manchester United consider Anderson after being unable to secure Baleba

MAN UTD TARGET ELLIOT ANDERSON AFTER CARLOS BALEBA TRANSFER FAILURE

Manchester United have switched their attention to Elliot Anderson after failing to sign Brighton's Carlos Baleba, as Ruben Amorim eyes a midfield overhaul. The 22-year-old Nottingham Forest dynamo has become one of the most sought-after names in English football following his breakthrough into the Three Lions squad. United had already been monitoring Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and revisiting interest in Baleba, but it is now being reported that Anderson has emerged as the standout target.

Amorim’s New Engine: Why Anderson is the Priority for United’s Revamp

The winds of change are sweeping through Old Trafford with revolutionary force. New manager Ruben Amorim, tasked with sculpting a Manchester United side in his own high-intensity, tactically astute image, has identified the midfield as the absolute priority for his summer 2025 rebuild. While the initial focus was on securing a deal for Brighton’s powerful enforcer, Carlos Baleba, negotiations have stalled, forcing a decisive pivot in United’s transfer strategy. Now, all eyes are on Nottingham Forest’s breakout star, Elliot Anderson.

The failure to land Baleba is understood to stem from Brighton & Hove Albion’s notoriously firm valuation, which United’s new hierarchy were unwilling to meet. This setback, however, has illuminated a new and perhaps more fitting path. Anderson, fresh from a sensational season at the City Ground that culminated in a well-deserved senior England call-up, represents a different, more dynamic profile. While Baleba is a pure defensive powerhouse, Anderson offers the all-action, box-to-box dynamism that has become the hallmark of elite modern midfields.

At 22, Anderson has rapidly evolved from a promising talent into a Premier League force. His 2024/25 campaign saw him combine tireless running and tenacious tackling with an impressive ability to carry the ball through congested areas and break defensive lines. This blend of technical security and relentless energy makes him an ideal candidate for the double-pivot system Amorim famously employed at Sporting CP. The Portuguese manager demands midfielders who can contribute decisively in all phases of play—pressing aggressively, transitioning rapidly from defense to attack, and providing a goal threat. In Anderson, United see a player who ticks every box.

The club's interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton remains, but he is viewed as a different type of player—a silky, deep-lying orchestrator. While a valuable profile, sources inside Carrington suggest that Amorim believes the immediate need is for an engine, a player who can inject pace and intensity into a midfield that has too often appeared static. The revisited interest in Baleba was a fallback, but Anderson has now been identified as the primary target who offers the perfect synthesis of physicality and forward-thinking ability.

This strategic shift signals a clear new direction for Manchester United under the INEOS sporting structure. The focus is on acquiring young, hungry, and Premier League-proven talent with the potential to become world-class. Anderson, an English international entering his prime, perfectly fits this new blueprint. He is seen not just as a solution, but as a statement of intent—a move away from expensive, high-risk foreign imports towards building a core of domestic talent.

However, securing his signature will be a significant test for the new regime. Nottingham Forest, having nurtured Anderson into a full international, are in a powerful negotiating position. With his stock at an all-time high, they are expected to demand a fee that could eclipse £70 million. Furthermore, United will not be alone in their admiration, with other top-four contenders known to be monitoring the situation closely.

The pursuit of Elliot Anderson is now the defining narrative of Manchester United's summer. It represents the first major test of Ruben Amorim’s vision and the board’s ability to deliver his priority targets. If they succeed, they won’t just be signing a player; they’ll be acquiring the new engine for a midfield—and a club—desperate to return to the pinnacle of English football.