Manchester United firmly believes that signing Anderson will lead to Premier League glory and has never given up. They consider a transfer fee of £80 million to be reasonable.

At 34, Casemiro has departed, and Manchester United requires a successor. Elliot Anderson remains the primary target. On the emotional farewell day for Casemiro at the Theatre of Dreams, Anderson made an impression with 106 touches and two assists, leading fans to shout for him to join the club next season.

21-year-old United academy star Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract and has been assured of being the future cornerstone. Analyzing Mainoo's contributions in midfield, he is a standard No.8 who needs a more defensively solid partner. With his composed ball control, Mainoo can supply ammunition to teammates like Bruno Fernandes in front.

This means United needs a player capable of tackling, physically strong, able to cover the entire pitch to win back possession, and possessing comprehensive passing skills. At 23, Anderson's stats align perfectly with these requirements.

Anderson has been the most complete midfielder in the Premier League this season, bar none. Among players in similar positions, he ranks first in dribbles, aerial duels, and touches in all areas of the pitch. Additionally, he is second in passes into the attacking third and long passes.

His weakness also exists: data shows he has the most dispossessions in the league. Of course, another major issue in the transfer is his high price and intense competition, which could force Manchester United to back out, even if the Red Devils secure Champions League qualification.

Sky Sports UK reports that if you want to find a midfielder most similar to Anderson, it's not Sandro Tonali of Newcastle, Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, or Carlos Baleba of Brighton, but someone very familiar to Manchester United—James Garner.

At Everton, Garner earned a call-up to the England national team. Similar to Anderson, except for being ranked 21st in headed clearances, he is in the top 20 for all other key stats where Anderson ranks first or second. And his dispossessions are just over half of Anderson's, making him a more consistent player.

Unfortunately, Garner renewed his contract with Everton early this year, and Manchester United missed the chance to re-sign him for free. Now, the possibility of the former "Carrick successor" returning to the Red Devils academy is becoming increasingly slim.

West Ham United ultimately suffered relegation from the Premier League, but their Portuguese young midfielder Matheus Fernandes has earned praise for his performances. The transfer fee for relegated players is bound to shrink significantly. Under normal circumstances, the "Hammers" would demand over £80 million, but dropping to the Championship might make them accept £50-60 million.

M. Fernandes can play in all midfield positions, especially excelling in the defensive third, providing more stability alongside Mainoo. As a relatively young player, he has great development potential and could even succeed his Portuguese compatriot Bruno Fernandes in the future! Moreover, his omission from Portugal's World Cup squad is a plus for Manchester United's pursuit.

Newcastle's Tonali is another midfielder attracting United's attention. Arsenal showed interest in him in January. Manchester United might also have concerns about Tonali's price tag, but he has undoubtedly proven himself in the English top flight. However, his strengths lie more in offensive organization, and his shielding role in midfield may be insufficient.

Manchester United still maintains interest in Baleba, but his performances have sharply declined since his failed transfer, which is worrying. Many know how strong a mentality is required for a Manchester United player. Baleba's dip in form could raise questions about whether he is mentally ready for such a vital role or if his work ethic is reliable.

Crystal Palace's Wharton is considered too similar to Mainoo, so transfer rumors about him have cooled. The two are indeed quite alike—both good at calm ball control and high pressing, and both prone to being dispossessed. However, Wharton is still superior defensively: he ranks 11th in tackles, while Mainoo is 53rd; in regaining possession in the attacking third, Wharton is 6th, Mainoo 40th. Additionally, Wharton ranks 11th in long passes, compensating for Mainoo's short-passing preference.

The British Sun also reports that Manchester United believe Anderson is the most suitable midfield addition, and his arrival could help Bruno Fernandes and propel the Red Devils into Premier League title contention. Their report even suggests that, in terms of playing style, Anderson is a better fit for Manchester United than for Manchester City, where he is rumored to prefer joining! However, United thinks he is only worth £80 million, a valuation Nottingham Forest strongly disagrees with.

Nottingham Forest expects many clubs to show interest in Anderson this summer. They are willing to sell, but only for a massive transfer fee. How much exactly? Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35 million, and the club plans to triple that amount, making him the most expensive English player in history, surpassing Declan Rice's £105 million move from West Ham to Arsenal.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Nottingham Forest considers the £115 million Chelsea paid for Moisés Caicedo in 2023 as the baseline price for selling Anderson. This means Anderson will inevitably be very expensive, and he is widely believed to favor joining Manchester City. Nevertheless, Manchester United has never given up the fight.