Manchester United’s main priority in the summer transfer window was to strengthen the club’s frontline, and as evidenced by the £200m investment in this area, that has been achieved.
Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesco have all moved to Old Trafford, forming a formidable new trio to work with during Ruben Amorim’s tenure as manager.
However, after completing such a deal, the organization turned its attention to a new number 6 to strengthen the strength and quality of the midfield department.
Carlos Baleva was identified as the Red Devils’ main target during the summer, but a deal could not be finalized with Brighton & Hove Albion demanding over £100m for his contract.
There is no doubt that Amorim’s side remain keen on signing him this January, but other Premier League options have emerged on their radar in recent weeks.
Comparison of Anderson with previous commercials for Manchester United in 2025/26
In an attempt to strengthen their midfield position, United are touting a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliott Anderson in the upcoming January window.
Amorim are reportedly already in contact with Sean Dyche’s men over a deal this winter, which could cost around £100m.
A deal like this would be huge support from the board, but how does the 23-year-old compare to current starters Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro?
Both players are experienced options for the current Red Devils, and although they’re both over 30 now, that hasn’t stopped Anderson from greatly dominating the pair in such a key area.
The Englishman has topped this season’s Premier League in 13 categories, many of which have shown his talent with and without the ball at his feet.
He completed 113 passes into the final third, taking his total to 706, the most of any player in this division, and then showed great ability in possession.
The youngster has been a force to be reckoned with when he doesn’t have the ball, and his skill set could end Casemiro’s career at Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Anderson has participated in the most defensive duels and also won the most duels of any player in this division, so he could be the perfect deep option for Amorim’s team.
At just 23 years old, the Forest star has all the tools to transform into an elite-level talent, but it remains to be seen whether the hierarchy will be prepared to spend £100m on his contract.
United star, Anderson’s hometown version
Given the rumored price tag for Anderson’s signature, it shows the importance of identifying talent from a young age, and even being able to create your own version from the academy system.
There is no doubt that United have changed their recruiting focus in recent months, as seen with the signings of Diego Leon and Senne Lamence, both talented young players with huge potential.
However, the academy ranks have also proven fruitful in recent years, as seen with the birth of the 92nd class, with graduates playing a major role during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure.
David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt all played central roles throughout their careers, helping the club win 13 Premier League titles.
Fans will no doubt expect Anderson to join such a list in the near future, but Amorim could save himself and the club millions of dollars by unleashing Kobi Mainu.
Like the aforementioned academy stars, the 20-year-old burst onto the scene as a teenager and quickly made an impact, becoming a key member of United’s squad.
His big breakthrough came in the 2023/24 season, with the youngster making 32 appearances in all competitions and scoring five times, many of which proved to be important achievements.
Mainoo scored a last-minute winner in a close game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and also scored against arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final victory.
However, he has failed to reach such heights over the past 12 months, with current manager Amorim prioritizing the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte over himself.
Such a decision may come as a surprise to fans, especially considering his performance last season. Despite only appearing in 25 league games, he outperformed Anderson in many key areas.
Mainu completed more of the passes he attempted, as well as more of the crosses he attempted, leading Alex Turk to call him a “future £100m-plus footballer”.
Comparison of Mainu and Anderson in PL (24/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | Mainu | anderson |
games played | twenty five | 37 |
goals and assists | 0 | 8 |
Pass accuracy | 87% | 82% |
completed cross | 29% | 26% |
Dribbling completed | 1.3 | 1.1 |
confiscated | 1.9 | 2.6 |
dribbled past | 0.8 | 2.1 |
Number of intercepts | 1.1 | 0.9 |
Statistics by FotMob | ||
He also completed more of the dribbles he attempted, but also had fewer chances of being stripped of the ball, and subsequently showed incredible ability in possession.
But without the ball, Mainu was dribbled past less often and had more interceptions, underscoring his ability to beat the £100m star when given the chance.
It’s clear that Mainu is still a talented player, but the manager desperately needs to swallow his pride and hand the 20-year-old the chance to become a regular in the first team.
He has had to come off the substitute bench a number of times in the past, which has undoubtedly hindered his chances of continuing his development and building a strong start to his career in 2023/24.
When he returns from injury in the near future, the 40-year-old needs to give the youngster the chance to be a consistent starter and be a regular starter so he can reach his full potential at the Theater of Dreams.
Such a decision would save the club millions of pounds and give academy graduates the chance to lead the Red Devils to new heights in the coming years.
