{"id":49364,"date":"2026-06-28T21:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T01:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/28\/man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T21:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T01:28:10","slug":"man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/28\/man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign\/","title":{"rendered":"Man United can still sign Elliott Anderson, but he will cost \u00a385m to sign."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/28\/man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign\/#Why_missing_out_on_Elliott_Anderson_is_a_blessing_for_Manchester_United\" >Why missing out on Elliott Anderson is a blessing for Manchester United<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/28\/man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign\/#Comparison_of_Fernandes_and_Elliott_Anderson\" >Comparison of Fernandes and Elliott Anderson<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/28\/man-united-can-still-sign-elliott-anderson-but-he-will-cost-85m-to-sign\/#Better_deal_than_Matheus_Fernandes_60m_English_star_wants_to_join_Man_United\" >Better deal than Matheus Fernandes: \u00a360m English star wants to join Man United<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Over the weekend, it became clear that Manchester United&#8217;s hopes of signing Elliott Anderson were completely over.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>Truth be told, they&#8217;ve been around for a while. Manchester City are in pole position to sign the Nottingham Forest player, with a transfer fee reportedly now agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson is set to move to the Etihad for a whopping \u00a3116 million, making him the second-most expensive transfer in Premier League history alongside Florian Wirths. No pressure then, Elliot?<\/p>\n<p>    Fortunately for United, they have had this vibe for some time and have targeted a number of alternatives on the market.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-missing-out-on-elliot-anderson-is-a-blessing-in-disguise-for-man-united\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_missing_out_on_Elliott_Anderson_is_a_blessing_for_Manchester_United\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Why missing out on Elliott Anderson is a blessing for Manchester United<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong, Anderson is a tremendous talent. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. There&#8217;s a reason a team like Man City moved heaven and earth to sign him this summer.<\/p>\n<p>But \u00a3116m is an astronomical sum. That&#8217;s \u00a311m more than Declan Rice, who was arguably a better player than Anderson when he joined Arsenal.<\/p>\n<p>    The truth is, if I&#8217;m going to charge such a high price, I want a complete article, and I want someone who&#8217;s been at the top for years. Anderson isn&#8217;t like that. His performance at the World Cup also shows that. He has struggled to get into games and is not as convincing as he was in a Forest shirt.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, that&#8217;s why United have done incredibly well in putting together a \u00a339m move pending approval for Atalanta&#8217;s Ederson signing. United are under no illusions that they will have to pay a premium for a second midfielder.<\/p>\n<p>Who could that be? Well, whoever it is, they come cheaper than Anderson, thus leaving enough in the kitty to strengthen other positions as well.<\/p>\n<p>One potential replacement is Matheus Fernandes. He is estimated to be worth \u00a385 million and could potentially join either Tottenham Hotspur or United.<\/p>\n<p>Providing an update on the West Ham star this week, Sky Sports Germany&#8217;s Florian Plettenberg said on social media that United remain &#8220;determined&#8221; to sign the player and have not given up despite competition from Spurs.<\/p>\n<p>    Plettenberg concluded by revealing that negotiations with the Hammers are ongoing, but that personal terms have already been agreed.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-fernandes-compares-to-elliot-anderson\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparison_of_Fernandes_and_Elliott_Anderson\"><\/span>\n                        <strong>Comparison of Fernandes and Elliott Anderson<\/strong><br \/>\n               <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With Anderson, United would have found an elite midfield player who could significantly raise the ceiling of Michael Carrick&#8217;s team.<\/p>\n<p>The England squad ticks a lot of boxes, especially with Casemiro&#8217;s departure. Ironically given Manuel Ugarte&#8217;s criticism, Ulgaouyan was the only player in the Premier League last season to make more defensive contributions per 90 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>    The Forest star has had a special season, with manager Thomas Tuchel hailing him as &#8220;one of the best midfielders in the Premier League&#8221;. Based on that, it&#8217;s no surprise that he partnered with Declan Rice at the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>A complete midfielder, Anderson is an incredible screener in front of the back four, but is also very effective in the final third. He scored a great goal against Man City, but it was just one of four goals he scored throughout the 2025\/26 season. The 23-year-old also recorded four assists. The Geordie-born superstar is a complete midfielder.<\/p>\n<p>However, Fernandes is also trending in the same direction. At just 21 years old, United could sign one of Europe&#8217;s best up-and-coming midfielders here. He&#8217;s a player who, even if he&#8217;s not a star yet, has a very good chance of becoming a star in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Former midfielder Joe Tesem explained it perfectly: &#8220;He (Fernandes) is becoming the ultimate Premier League midfielder. He plays like a Premier League player, he passes like a Premier League player. He is fast like a Premier League player. He moves very well in midfield.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That can very easily describe Anderson. Both are technically stable, great at breaking up plays, and both are incredibly hard workers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" style=\"\" align=\"\" summary=\"\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\" scope=\"col\" style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Midfielder movement distance &#8211; 25\/26 PL<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>Number of kilometers traveled<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>1. Elliot Anderson<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>318.6<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>2. Bernardo Silva<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>304.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>3. Ethan Ampadu<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>302.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>4. Enzo Fernandes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>294.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>5. Thunder Verge<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>289.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>6. Martin Zvimendi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>282.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>7. Bruno Fernandes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>282.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>8. Declan Rice<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>281.7<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>9. Mateus Fernandes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p><strong>279.3<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>10. Granit Xhaka<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align:center\">\n<p>277.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<p>Indeed, City&#8217;s record signing topped the Top League&#8217;s km charts this season, and Fernandes wasn&#8217;t far behind. In fact, he was very close to Rice, the benchmark for Premier League midfielders.<\/p>\n<p>They are very good at advancing plays when the runners don&#8217;t have the ball, as well as when they do have the ball. Last season, Anderson had 1.13 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to Fernandez&#8217;s 1.10.<\/p>\n<p>    This is certainly good news for teams looking to upgrade from the departing Casemiro. The Brazilian was an exceptional winner in duels, but he no longer had the energy to face the pitch. For comparison, he scored just 0.35 points per 90.<\/p>\n<p>So while Anderson was undoubtedly a dream target, the Red Devils were never going to come close to his \u00a3116m fee. Signing Fernandes for a more reasonable but still expensive fee of \u00a385m would certainly be the next best option.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                              \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"better-signing-than-mateus-fernandes-lewis-hall-wants-to-join-man-utd\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<p>                        <\/p>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Better_deal_than_Matheus_Fernandes_60m_English_star_wants_to_join_Man_United\"><\/span>\n<p>\t\t\tBetter deal than Matheus Fernandes: \u00a360m English star wants to join Man United<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">Manchester United could be in for another big transfer window this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the weekend, it became clear that Manchester United&#8217;s hopes of signing Elliott Anderson were completely over. Truth be told, they&#8217;ve been around for a while. Manchester City are in pole position to sign the Nottingham Forest player, with a transfer fee reportedly now agreed. Anderson is set to move to the Etihad for a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[8227,6787,1017,2962,40,304,43,107],"class_list":["post-49364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-85m","tag-anderson","tag-cost","tag-elliott","tag-football","tag-man","tag-sign","tag-united"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49364"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49364\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}