INEOS could finance Elliott Anderson’s move by releasing Manchester United’s ‘best player’

Manchester United supporters have been largely frustrated over the past decade with the club’s lack of sustained success since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Scottish player decided to call it a day at the end of the 2012/13 season, with the Red Devils still unable to achieve Premier League glory under the guidance of another manager.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy already supporting his quest for success during his tenure.

He has already spent more than £220m since taking over in November last year, the majority of which has gone towards the final third of the team.

However, as January rapidly approached, the board shifted its attention to the midfield department, resulting in a number of players being offered transfers to the club.

United’s latest moves towards signing Elliott Anderson

In recent weeks, United have touted various moves for a number of central midfielders to strengthen Amorim’s side in the second half of the season.

Adam Wharton, Joao Gomez and Ederson have been linked with moves, but none of the aforementioned talent appears to be their main target.

Such luxury is now in the hands of Elliott Anderson, with the Nottingham Forest star appearing to be the Red Devils’ biggest target this January.

The 23-year-old has impressed for Sean Dyche’s side this season and has established himself as a regular starter for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Amorim’s side are reportedly willing to pay £60m for the midfielder’s signature in the next window in a bid to solve problems in the center of the squad.

However, Forest are seeking at least £100m for their star player, who has three-and-a-half years left on his current contract, and such a deal could well be rejected immediately.

There is also no release clause in Anderson’s current contract with the City Ground, meaning Dyche’s men will have full control over negotiations should a move occur.

If Amorim’s side are able to sign the Englishman during this period, the £100m deal would make them a club record payout for his signature, surpassing the £89m they paid for Paul Pogba almost a decade ago.

Players Amorim could sell to fund Anderson’s contract

£100 million is a huge sum even in today’s market, but Anderson’s statistics from this campaign show why he is so highly valued by his current employers.

He ranks top in various categories across the Premier League this season, from touches on the ball to possessions won by his team.

His 8.6 progressive passes per 90 mark highlights his incredible ball-playing ability, but the selling point for Amorim and the board could be his performance from the moment of possession.

Genuine ball-winners are something clubs are missing these days, and the Englishman’s dominance in winning the ball back seems to have sparked recent interest.

However, after spending around £200m on new reinforcements in the summer, it remains to be seen how much the board intends to spend in the upcoming January window.

As a result, a number of players could be left out of the current squad, with Koby Mainu being just one of the stars Amorim could sell.

Twelve months ago, such words would have been laughable, but the midfielder has not been able to show his talent since the 40-year-old arrived.

In the 2025/26 season alone, the 20-year-old has appeared in just eight league games, none of which were starts, and he has only played 170 minutes so far.

Since then, he has taken a backseat to the more experienced Casemiro, with the manager clearly preferring the Brazilian over the academy sensation.

However, the Red Devils have young players like Sekou Kone who could surpass him in Amorim’s plans, and things could get even worse for Mainu in the near future.

Anderson’s arrival could mean just that, leaving Maynou redundant with the demands at Old Trafford, which is a real travesty.

Just a few years ago, he was scoring important goals in the FA Cup final and local derbies, leading journalist Liam Canning to label him the club’s “best player”.

However, it is clear that the manager does not have as much faith in his players as many outsiders, which may force the youngster to move on to maximize his potential elsewhere.

Even if he is sold in January, he will likely still command a hefty fee, and such funds could play a key role in the pursuit of Anderson in the coming weeks.

Mainu’s fall was truly devastating for the fans to witness, especially after the joy he gave them when he slipped into the first-team set-up at the age of 18.

However, the board will have to make big demands to land Forest’s star player or keep the academy graduate happy at the club, so it is vital that the club sign him before his value drops further.