When football fans woke up this week, nobody expected the Premier League world to shake the way it did. Transfer rumours come and go every single season, but this one has turned into a war, a war between two of the biggest clubs not only in England but in world football. It is no longer a rumour, it is no longer a whisper, it is a direct fire into the heart of Manchester United, and the club that pulled the trigger is their city rival, Manchester City. This is not just football business anymore, this is pride, ego, history, dominance and reputation. It is the story of Manchester United chasing their number one target Elliot Anderson, and just when they thought the deal was moving in the right direction, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City entered the scene like a lion that has spotted wounded prey. Anderson is no ordinary midfielder, he is not just another name in transfer gossip. He has been called elite, he has been described as the next big thing for English football, and the rise of this 23-year-old has shocked even the biggest scouts across Europe. Only 12 months ago, people were asking questions about him when he left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in a £35 million transfer. Today, they are talking about him being worth £80 million to £100 million. Today, his name has gone from underdog to superstar. Today, he is the midfielder that both halves of Manchester want, and the football world has now turned its cameras towards him.
Elliot Anderson walked into Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2024 with hunger, fire and determination. Some fans thought Forest overpaid, while others felt he was not yet ready for Premier League dominance. But the young man answered everyone with his feet. He played like a warrior, he broke defensive lines with confidence, he was brave, he was fearless, he became the brain of the midfield. With every match, the noise around him got louder. With every assist and every goal, the world started paying attention. At just 23, he did what very few players have done, he forced his way into England’s senior national team, wearing the shirt of the Three Lions with pride, delivering performances that shocked opponents across Europe. Now he has six caps already and is set to be part of England’s squad for next summer’s World Cup under Thomas Tuchel. The question is no longer whether Elliot Anderson is special. The question is who will win the battle for him.
Manchester United believes the answer should be them. For months, Erick Ten Hag’s successor Ruben Amorim looked at Anderson as the future of Manchester United’s midfield. They want two massive midfield signings next summer, one being Anderson and the other Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Manchester United planned the future around him, believing he would join the great legacy of Man United midfield legends. His age, his talent, his hunger, his growth, everything matched perfectly with the new era that United want to build. The scouting team watched him, the board discussed him, the fans talked about him on social media, the idea of Anderson at Old Trafford excited everyone connected to the red side of Manchester. Manchester United thought they were ahead in the race. Manchester United thought the biggest threat to signing him would come from abroad, maybe Bayern, maybe PSG, maybe Real Madrid. But no, the threat came from one place they didn’t expect, one place that will hurt the most. The threat came from the blue side of their own city.
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are not just planning to sign Anderson. They are planning to hijack the deal from Manchester United’s hands. City want him, City will prioritize him, and City are ready to move first before United even prepare their official proposal. Manchester City are already looking at the future of their midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva getting older and having battled injuries in recent seasons. Guardiola wants clear long-term replacements who can play at the top level for another decade. In Anderson he sees everything he wants: passing range, power, technical quality, intelligence, hard work, aggression and leadership. Manchester City have decided that Anderson is not just an option. He is a priority. Nottingham Forest know they are holding a jackpot, they know that the bidding will not be cheap, and they will demand £80 million to £100 million. And the shocking part is that Manchester City are not scared of the price. They are ready.
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Manchester United fans are in pain because they can see the storyline forming once again. Manchester City taking the player that United wanted the most, just like they did many times before. It is like history trying to repeat itself. It is like football reminding United that City are the kings of the Premier League era while United are still trying to find their identity. The feeling around Old Trafford is disappointment and fear, because they know that Anderson’s future now depends on football ambition and trophies. If it becomes a direct choice between Champions League football with City or Europa Conference League or Europa League struggle with United, everyone knows how that battle ends. Ruben Amorim wants to bring United back to greatness. He wants to take them to Europe again and fight for titles, but at this moment the reality is different. United are still rebuilding. City are already winning. United are chasing glory. City are living in glory.
Elliot Anderson is entering the phase of his career where the next transfer can change everything forever. If he goes to Manchester City, he will play for a team that wins Premier Leagues frequently. He will play in the Champions League every year, he will play with some of the best footballers in the world, and Pep Guardiola will develop him into a complete midfielder. A footballer of Anderson’s age wants a career that will push him to the highest level. And the truth is the spotlight of Manchester City right now is brighter than Manchester United. For Anderson, this transfer is not just about money. It is about football destiny, about ambition, about becoming world-class. A move to City will take him into the elite category faster, and City are ready to welcome him with open hands. United might try, United might fight, but they can feel the direction of this story.
Nottingham Forest do not want to sell him in January. They are still fighting for league safety, and Anderson is the heart of the team. But football logic is not on their side. If clubs come with £100 million, there is no club on earth that can refuse. So while January might be too early, a summer transfer is nearly unavoidable. Nottingham Forest are aware that Anderson will wear another shirt very soon. Every match he plays feels like a countdown, a countdown until the day he leaves City Ground for the next chapter. Fans of Nottingham Forest love him. He gave them quality, confidence and star power. They will be sad when he leaves, but deep down they know that he has grown too big for them, too fast for them, too elite for them to hold. Anderson is no longer the player people doubted. Anderson is now a superstar, and superstars always move upward.
On social media, the conversation has exploded. Manchester United fans are furious, Man City fans are excited, and Nottingham Forest fans are emotional. Some say Anderson will choose City because of trophies, some say he will choose United because he wants to become a legend rather than just another star inside an already star-filled squad. Some fans say he should go abroad, some say the price is too much, some say he is the next Jude Bellingham, some say he is overrated. But one thing is clear: nobody is calm. The Premier League has been set on fire by this transfer battle. This is not just about a footballer. This is about pride, power and superiority.
Manchester United know that losing Anderson will hurt badly. It will send shock waves to fans and critics. It will make people question the club again. Ruben Amorim wanted him as the star midfielder to build around. If City take him, United will have to start the search again while City continue strengthening without rest. And that is the worst part. It is not just that United lose. It is that City win. It is double pain.
Manchester City smell blood. Pep Guardiola is building another evolution of his midfield, and Anderson is one of the cornerstones. They will go with everything they have. Their structure, finances and success make them the most dangerous club in the transfer market. When City want a player, they normally get him. United will need a miracle to stop City now. And miracles in football do not happen every day.
Anderson is not talking publicly. His agent is not giving hints. But everyone watching football knows the decision is coming. One signature will decide the fate of two Premier League giants. The moment the pen touches paper, one side of Manchester will celebrate and the other will break.
The next few months will be dramatic. The transfer war will be intense. United will not give up. City will not slow down. Nottingham Forest will wait to cash in. England fans will watch to see where their new midfield star goes next. The world will follow the story because this transfer has turned into a battle for power.
Elliot Anderson has become the most wanted midfielder in England. He can pick the path that will lead him to greatness. Will he walk into Old Trafford to become the saviour of Manchester United and the face of a new project? Or will he walk into the Etihad Stadium to join Pep Guardiola, collect trophies and become a complete superstar?
Does he want a challenge or does he want success immediately? Does he want to build or does he want to dominate? Does he want history or does he want certainty?
Football is unpredictable. Transfers are unpredictable. But right now, there is one truth that nobody can deny. The battle for Elliot Anderson has officially begun
