MANCHESTER UNITED want to make Elliot Anderson their marquee summer signing amid intense competition from rivals City.
It’s widely believed that City remain the frontrunners to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson.
But United have identified Anderson, 23, as their ideal midfield target and are prepared to plan their summer recruitment around him.
Anderson is under contract at Forest until 2029 and his starting status for England has increased his valuation.
Former Newcastle player Anderson was named among the 11 players who will link up with the England squad after Friday’s friendly with Uruguay.
All 11 players are certainties to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad or in his first XI.
City recruited midfielders Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders last year while League Cup final matchwinner Nico O’Reilly is a midfielder by trade.
It has been suggested that City would only sanction a move for Anderson if midfield stalwart Rodri failed to get back to his best.
Former Newcastle player Anderson is one of the top assets at the Stellar agency that also represents Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo, 20, is on the verge of signing a new long-term contract with United, having started in their past 11 matches.
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Anderson excelled against United in Forest’s 2-2 draw at the City Ground in November and he is set to line up at Old Trafford in United’s final home game of the season in mid-May.
Anderson earned Forest a point in their 2-2 draw at City last month with his second goal of the season.
United want to sign two midfielders for next season, with Casemiro due to be released, and have a preference for Premier League pedigree.
Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott are among the Premier League midfielders admired by United.
Wharton wants to leave Crystal Palace for a Champions League club and Tonali is keen on an exit route out of Newcastle, who will almost certainly not be in Europe next season.
United enquired about Baleba’s availability in the summer while Scott has come onto their radar amid a fine season with Bournemouth.
The club prioritised strengthening their attack last summer and invested more than £200million to bring in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
United felt they had ample options in midfield for a season without European football and they are on course to qualify for the Champions League.
Third-placed United have got through this season by playing Casemiro, Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and occasionally Manuel Ugarte in midfield.
Ugarte has started only nine times and United have won one of them.
Casemiro and Mainoo have lined up in all 11 of Carrick’s games in charge as Fernandes has moved back into the No10 role.
