United will not throw in the towel prematurely in the battle to sign Elliot Anderson this summer, despite being fully aware that Manchester City can offer a more lucrative financial package.
The two Manchester clubs are preparing to go head-to-head at the end of the season in pursuit of the star player, with Nottingham Forest surely hoping to make a huge profit from the £35m they spent on him in July 2024.
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How Anderson has fared since leaving St James’ Park
At the time, Newcastle United were desperate to keep Anderson but were forced to sell him to avoid any breach of the PSR. Given that he is a product of the Magpies academy, the cost of selling him counts as net profit for the Magpies.
He has since flourished at the City Ground, becoming a mainstay for Forest who spent much of last season in the top four and defied all odds to qualify for European competitions.
With his outstanding performance, Anderson was selected for the England national team for the first time in September 2025 and subsequently represented the national team.
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Despite Forest’s struggles over the past seven months since the start of the 2025/2026 season, expectations remain high that the 23-year-old, who is valued at around £90m, will be a guaranteed inclusion in the Three Lions’ summer World Cup squad.
However, this could mean United and his other suitors will have to wait until the end of the game to really move forward with negotiations.
What a reporter heard about Anderson and Manchester United/Manchester City
Responding to speculation that City could easily beat Manchester United financially in Anderson negotiations, Ben Jacobs told United’s position: “The intelligence I’m getting from within the club at the moment is not that Manchester United clearly think they will lose the race for Elliot Anderson, that he will go to Manchester City, or that the player will only make a decision based on financial circumstances.
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“There is appreciation for City being able to offer more money, but United can certainly also improve on his current package at Nottingham Forest. So I think it will be until the end of April/early May before we really figure it out.”
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