Manchester United is still frantically calling Anderson to persuade him! They risk ending up with nothing, and fans are calling for them to quickly switch targets to two other players.

Manchester United has secured their first summer signing, with Atalanta's 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder Ederson set to join. Who's next? The club's owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has his heart set on Elliot Anderson, a target the club is still unwilling to give up.

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United is still working to persuade the 23-year-old Anderson to move to Old Trafford rather than to Manchester City. United will return to the Champions League next season and hope Anderson can become a key piece in the club's revival.

Sources have been emphasizing for months that Manchester City are the favorites to sign Anderson, with personal terms between the England international midfielder and City "agreed in principle." However, Anderson remains United's primary target. Another transfer expert, Ben Jacobs, reports that this is because Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have always wanted to sign him—it's their dream target.

Manchester City are well aware of this, but they are optimistic about beating United and reaching an agreement with Nottingham Forest. Anderson himself has always been leaning towards City—this is an undisputed fact, and it is not affected by Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola as manager.

Anderson is not a "City fan from childhood"; the club he supported growing up is his boyhood club Newcastle United. However, Anderson is inclined to join Manchester City, believing that their system and style of play suit him better than United's.

However, Sir Jim and United's top brass remain confident, believing that the Red Devils' appeal is not necessarily inferior to City's. According to one statistic, in direct transfer battles between United and City, the Red Devils lead the Citizens 8-5.

In the history of Manchester derby transfer battles, those who chose United include Berbatov, Ashley Young, Van Persie, Eric Bailly, Sanchez, Fred, Maguire, and Cristiano Ronaldo, while City landed Tevez, Aguero, Nasri, Kevin Phillips, and Semenyo.

Romano said that United are still constantly calling Anderson: "Manchester City have been pushing to sign Anderson from Nottingham Forest, and they know United are still calling and calling. But City are trying hard."

It is rumored that City could offer up to £90 million, still short of Nottingham Forest's £100 million-plus valuation, but a compromise is believed achievable. Romano added: "I told you back in March that City have always been the favorites to sign Anderson. They have made up their minds, have taken some steps, and are willing to offer the player a very important contract. So City believe they can really sign Anderson—that hasn't changed."

Although Guardiola has left, City's managerial change will not alter their plan to sign Anderson. "Maresca is also interested in this deal; Anderson is a target approved internally at City, not just Guardiola's choice. Now with Maresca in charge, they will still pursue him. Let's see what happens with Nottingham Forest; United are still trying and contacting."

The BBC also reports that Anderson is inclined to move to Manchester City. Despite United's interest, the outside world increasingly believes that this England midfield mainstay will transfer to City. Therefore, many United fans feel that although Anderson has many merits, he is not enthusiastic about joining United, so the club should stop wasting its efforts and instead pursue other targets, such as Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and West Ham United's Matheus Fernandes, who are all willing to join the Red Devils.