Man Utd get Elliot Anderson update and green light for ‘insanely cheap’ January move

Robin Bairner

21 Nov 2025 07:55 GMT
3 min read

Elliot Anderson, Man Utd, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Manchester United’s hunt for a new midfielder continues, with Elliot Anderson still heavily linked with the Old Trafford club. But with competition in the Nottingham Forest star intense, “alarm bells” are ringing over the potential signing of an ‘insanely’ cheap alternative.

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Anderson is Ruben Amorim’s priority to replace Casemiro, who will leave next summer when his contract expires, The Times reports.

Although the Brazil international has become a key figure for United, a combination of his age – he turns 34 in January – and a salary in excess of €20 million per year means it’s highly unlikely that the Red Devils trigger his additional one-year option.

Current ETV

Elliot Anderson

M, DM (C)

Nottingham

Elliot Anderson

M, DM (C)

Nottingham

ETV Range

€55.5M - €67.8M

Anderson is seen as the best alternative, but with Forest pricing the 23-year-old at around €115m (£100m), he will not come cheap. Furthermore, there is competition from Liverpool and Newcastle United for the England international.

A January move for the player, though, is said to be “unlikely”.

Man Utd target bargain: Ruben Neves on the transfer list

Man Utd could still find a midfield reinforcement in the form of Ruben Neves during the January transfer window, with the Al-Hilal and Portugal midfielder put up for sale for a bargain price of €20m, Fichajes reports.

Amorim’s side are one of three Premier League sides considering a move for the 28-year-old. Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur are also tracking the player.

Neves ticks a lot of the boxes that United would be looking for from a January signing. He has Premier League experience, so can be expected to hit the ground running should he complete a move. He is also familiar with Bruno Fernandes’ game having worked with his potential midfield colleague at international level.

The price is good, too: at €20m, he would not break the bank. Neves’ Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at just €15.2m, but at his peak he was worth in excess of €50m.

His wage could be a deal breaker, however. Like many players who went to Saudi, he earns huge money. Neves reportedly receives close to €500,000 a week – an impossible figure for United to match. He would have to be willing to take a sizeable pay cut, then, to return to the Premier League.

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