There was always a nagging feeling that had Sir Alex Ferguson been in charge, players like Harry Kane and Declan Rice would have ended up at Manchester United, and perhaps Elliott Anderson would have joined that list as well.
Fergie has repeatedly raided the Premier League for the best British or English talent, including poaching Rio Ferdinand from rivals Leeds United and signing teenager Wayne Rooney from Everton.
However, while United were by far the dominant domestic force at the time, the balance of power had changed significantly, and they probably no longer had the ability or desire to compete with the financial power of Manchester City, the club Anderson would join.
Whether the Red Devils could really justify a £120m transfer fee for the 23-year-old is another matter, but missing out on their reported top target has forced the INEOS regime to shift its focus elsewhere.
Manchester United’s big-money target is ‘very keen’ to join this summer
Anderson appears to have his heart set on a move to the Etihad, even amid the recent departure of Josep Guardiola, and the Red Devils may perhaps want to target a player they actually want to join in 2022, hurt by their long and ultimately futile pursuit of Frenkie de Jong in the past.
One player likely to be keen on a move as he looks for the next step in his career is Fulham’s US international Anthony Robinson, who could be a potential rival to Luke Shaw at left-back.
Targeting the 28-year-old continues United’s trend of considering proven options in the Premier League, which has become a feature of their pursuit of midfield replacements for Anderson.
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Man United could have an advantage when it comes to signing him next summer.
As revealed by Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel, INEOS are continuing to negotiate a contract with West Ham United’s Matheus Fernandes, with contact expected to continue “in the coming hours”.
According to Romano, negotiations with the player’s camp are progressing positively and the 21-year-old is said to be “very keen” on a move.
The only sticking point is price, with the Hammers wanting a transfer fee closer to £85m after initially asking for £100m, but the Red Devils are in no rush as they want to negotiate a lower fee.
Why Fernandes could be Manchester United’s Anderson
In the case of Rice, by the time he moved to Arsenal for £105m in 2023, the former West Ham man had already played for England in two major competitions, as well as captaining his former club to Conference League glory, and felt like a sure thing.
Anderson, currently Rice’s partner at the Three Lions, doesn’t have the same cash at the moment, having only enjoyed two full seasons of Premier League football with Nottingham Forest and not even being part of England’s conversation when Coby Mainoo shined at Euro 2024.
Investing so much in him could be something of a risk, especially if you feel the young Fernandes has an equally exciting talent after two seasons at Premier League level.
Fernandes – 24/25 vs 25/26 PL | ||
|---|---|---|
24/25 | Statistics (*per game) | 25/26 |
36(34) | Game (start) | 36(35) |
2 | the goal | 3 |
6 | missed a big opportunity | 1 |
4 | assist | 4 |
6 | A big opportunity has arisen | 3 |
0.9 | Key pass* | 1.0 |
85% | Pass accuracy* | 87% |
3.3 | Tackles and interceptions* | 3.9 |
5.0 | collect* | 5.1 |
11.6 | Ball lost* | 9.3 |
The Portuguese playmaker, who signed for Southampton from Sporting CP in 2024 before joining West Ham last summer, is usually used as a box-to-box No. 8 and contributed 13 goals and assists in that time.
Furthermore, since the start of the 2024/25 season, he has produced nine “big chances” and boasts a reliable key pass average of one per game in recent seasons, showing a progressive and exploring presence in the center of the park.
That certainly reflects Anderson. Anderson is a man who isn’t necessarily locked into a midfield role, with the Geordie star making his mark with 16 goals and assists over the past two seasons.
He has also created 16 ‘big chances’ and boasts an average key pass success rate of 1.4 from the 2025/26 season, but the difference between him and Fernandes is not that significant, especially considering the potential price difference.
What I also like about both players is how combative they are, kind of a throwback to the classic No. 8s who can be effective both in and out of possession.
Last season, for example, Fernandez averaged 3.9 tackles and interceptions per game, and averaged 5.1 ball recoveries per game. For comparison, Anderson averaged 3.8 tackles and interceptions, but was better when it came to recovering the ball (8.1 per game).
As well as their ability to win the ball, there is also admirable composure to their game, with Fernandes boasting an 87% passing accuracy, just above Anderson’s average of 86%. Once again, Casemiro, who left the club, finished the 2025/26 season with a pass rate of just 81%.
While Anderson may be better known, Fernandes mirrors Anderson in a range of metrics and is something of an all-rounder in his own right.
Missing out on the City-bound midfielder could prove to be a blessing in disguise if the Hammers man continues to shine at Old Trafford.
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